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.