A Practical Guide to Graphs, Figures, and Tables for Undergraduate Biomedical Theses

This practical guide, prepared by Professor Cristina Battaglia of the University of Milan, provides biomedical students with instruction on the effective visual communication of scientific data. The document explains how to classify categorical and quantitative variables in order to select the most appropriate graphical format, such as box plots, histograms, or survival curves. It outlines rigorous standards for the formatting of figures and tables, emphasizing the importance of including measurement units, comprehensive legends, and sample size information. The text also compares various statistical software packages, ranging from Excel to R, and offers recommendations on illustration tools. Finally, a section devoted to common mistakes warns against data distortion and the misuse of decorative effects that can compromise clarity and accurate interpretation.