Higher Order  Table

  When  three  or more  characteristics are represented in the same  table such a table  is called  higher order table. The  need  for such  a table arises when we are  interested in presenting a number of  characteristics simultaneously. While constructing  such a  table it  is necessary to first  establish  an order  of precedence among  the attributes  or characteristics sought  to be  classified having  regard to  their  relative importance.

In should  be remembered that  number of characteristics represented increase the table become more and more confusing  and as such normally  not more  than four  characteristics should  be represented in the  same  table. Where more  four characteristics are to  be represented  we can  have more  than one  table  depicting relationship  between  attributes. In  the following  two  illustrations, three and four  characteristics  are represented  respectively.