Suppression of Rare Combinations
A privacy method that removes or masks data records/fields that become identifying due to rare attribute combinations.
What This Really Means
This is especially important for small samples, small countries/regions, or minority subgroups where uniqueness is common.
Suppression can be paired with aggregation/coarsening and controlled access to protect users while allowing responsible research.
Examples
Masking cells where fewer than a minimum number of users appear
Removing an uncommon job title from exports
Suppressing cross-tabs that reveal unique combinations.
Common Misunderstandings
Tap each myth to reveal the reality
Suppression isn’t automatically data manipulation and always wrong, and Suppression of Rare Combinations is about a privacy method that removes or masks data records/fields that become identifying due to rare attribute combinations.
Suppression of Rare Combinations describes a privacy method that removes or masks data records/fields that become identifying due to rare attribute combinations, so it doesn’t mean that rare combinations don’t matter if names are removed.
More accurately, Suppression of Rare Combinations refers to a privacy method that removes or masks data records/fields that become identifying due to rare attribute combinations, and suppression alone solves privacy doesn’t follow from that.
Suppression of Rare Combinations describes a privacy method that removes or masks data records/fields that become identifying due to rare attribute combinations, so it doesn’t mean that suppression makes findings invalid automatically.
Related Terms
Tags
Inside LoveIQ
We identify patterns related to Suppression of Rare Combinations by analyzing responses in our assessment modules, helping you understand your unique relationship dynamics.
Sample visualization of a gap metric.
“You don't need to label yourself. These terms help describe patterns — not define you.”
Return to Glossary Index