zebra tables and lists

We produce many tables and lists in our publications group, in print, presentations, and web pages. There is a growing trend toward using “zebra tables”, alternating bands of background color for every other row.

While this can look graphically cute when viewed at a distance, I find my eye jumps to all the even (or odd) rows when scanning for information, so that I must constantly back up and rescan.

Is my observation backed by any other evidence, or am I just a whiner? I would appreciate a reference to a good discussion on design of tabular information.

Thanks,
Bruce Hensley