The situation
A DSD analyst is asked to report service outcomes by race and language for a rural county. In several groups the count is below ten. Leadership wants the numbers next week.
Fictional data example · no real participants
What a small table can reveal
A made-up service follow-up has 120 records. Explore what the overall count shows, what a grouped view adds, and what a safer reporting view must consider. Groups A, B and C are invented labels.
Withholding one small cell may leave it easy to calculate.
| Reporting group | Records | Marked complete | Share complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | 80 | 68 | 85% |
| Group B | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Group C | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| All records | 120 | 90 | 75% |
For this example only, imagine a reporting rule that withholds groups smaller than ten. Hiding C alone would fail: 120 − 80 − 32 reveals eight records, and 90 − 68 − 20 reveals two complete. This view also withholds B so this table cannot identify C by that subtraction. A real reporting rule and review of other available information belong with the data owner and privacy lead.
What could people's accounts add?
In a fictional conversation, someone says, “The record says complete, but I still could not tell whom to contact.” That account suggests a question about the handoff. It does not establish how often the problem happens. Invite feedback through usable channels and examine it alongside the records without identifying people in small groups.
What to notice first
- Small groups can be identified from aggregate tables.
- Suppression protects people and must be explained, not hidden.
- Qualitative evidence can carry what the numbers cannot.
Questions to ask before acting
- What is the smallest group you will report, and who set that rule?
- What will change based on the answer, and does that need the county-level cut?
- What do people's accounts add where numbers are suppressed?
Practical next moves
Who to involve
The data owner and your privacy lead set suppression rules. State the limits in the report.