Often a research paper is embedded with loads of data and complex results and it might not be viable to include all them in the space-constrained paper. Hence, this calls for effective presentation of the information in the form of figures or diagrams. In fact, figures are the most powerful tools that leave a strong visual impact for both reviewers and readers.
Here are few tips on how you can improve the presentation of figures in your research paper.
- Ensure that the components of the figures are clearly visible including the lines and text.
- Always use a standard font style and size for the figure text.
- Every figure needs to have a legend. The legend should support your figure entirely. The reader should be able to understand your figure, paired with its legend, without going to the results or method sections.
- All abbreviations in the figure legends need to be consolidated and spelt out.
- All parts of the figure need to be labelled. The symbols, lines, colors, abbreviations, error bars, scale bars, and other components need to be defined and described properly.
- If you are using photographs of your human subjects, don’t forget to obtain an informed signed consent for the same.
- Do not be afraid to use lengthy figure and table captions—better that than confusing or incomplete ones.
- Do not forget to cite the figure that has been taken from another source and supports your present study. Use the same citation style throughout the paper.
- All journals have their specific requirements for formatting figures, such as file format, font size, font style, image resolution, style of numbering, etc. Adhere to these guidelines before submission. You can learn more about fonts and styles if you are not familiar with them.
- Cite figures in the main text at the appropriate place where the text is supported by a particular figure.
The figures in your research paper communicate a parallel story to the reader. In fact, the reader can derive a fairly good idea of your paper by just scanning the figures in the paper. Remember that figures are not just tools to beautify your text; they are the heart of your research and an intrinsic part of your research paper. This highlights the importance of organizing the figures well so that they are able to perform as an excellent prop for your text.