Exclusion Rule Filtering

Exclusion Rule filtering prevents users from identifying scores for groups below the minimum response threshold by requiring the remainder of the filter to also meet the minimum threshold. While this feature may reduce the amount of demographic/manager break out data cuts available to a user, it enhances privacy protection for respondents. Columns of data, or even whole filter options, may be restricted for users because they violate the Exclusion Rule filter. 

The Exclusion Rule filter applies to the following reporting tools: 

• Filter Data

• Demographic Crosstab

• Manager Hierarchy

Exclusion Rule filtering is an advanced option to enhance privacy protection. Our default functionality protects the privacy of the respondent with the minimum threshold that is set by your company. For Perceptyx-led programs, please reach out to your Perceptyx team if you would like to enable Exclusion Rule filtering. For self-led programs, your platform administrator can enable Exclusion Rule filtering via the Platform Settings section of the Admin Portal (Listening Events > System Settings).

This article walks through:

• Exclusion Rule Filtering in the Filter Data Tool 
• Exclusion Rule Filtering in the Demographic Crosstab Report
• Exclusion Rule Filtering in the Manager Hierarchy - Filter & Crosstab

Exclusion Rule Filtering in the Filter Data Tool 

Normal filtering rules only require the selected filter to be above the minimum threshold; it doesn’t look at the non-selected (remainder) filter options.

Normal Filter Example: with a minimum threshold of 5.

In Example 1, under normal filtering rules, a manager can note the scores of Male and Female combined, and then filter on the Male population (which is above the threshold). Then by subtracting the Male scores from the Male and Female combined score, the user can identify the scores for the Female population, even though they are below the threshold.

The Exclusion Rule filter states, “No filter may be applied where the non-filtered option’s sum (remainder) is below the minimum threshold.” Therefore, a filter can only be applied if the selected filter option and remainder of the non-selected filter options are both at, or over, the minimum threshold.

In Example 1, with the Exclusion Rule filter turned on, the user cannot filter on Male because the non-selected value for Female is below the minimum threshold. For the user to be able to filter on Male, the Female population needs to be at least 5 or higher (meeting the minimum threshold).

Filter Example with Exclusion Rule Filter: with a minimum threshold of 5

Exclusion Rule Filtering in the Demographic Crosstab Report

Within the Demographic Crosstab report, the Exclusion Rule filter ensures the sum of all hidden  columns meets the minimum threshold in order to show the remaining above threshold columns. If needed, the system will add the next lowest above-threshold column to the suppressed group, to ensure the suppressed group’s sum is above the threshold.

Demographic Crosstab Example: with a minimum threshold of 5

In this Example 4, when the columns below the threshold are individually added together (Central and Southeast), their sum is still below the threshold. Therefore, the system adds the next lowest count column above the threshold (Mid-Atlantic) to the individually suppressed columns’ sum to push it over the minimum threshold.

Thus, the system actually suppresses columns that are individually above the threshold by adding them to the suppressed group to ensure the suppressed group’s sum is also above the threshold.

Demographic Crosstab Example: with a minimum threshold of 5 and “Don’t show anything if only 1 column had enough data” is also selected

In this Example 4b, when the columns below the threshold individually are added together (Central and Southeast), their sum is still below the threshold. Therefore, the system adds the next lowest count column above the threshold (Mid-Atlantic) to the individually suppressed columns’ sum, to push it over the minimum threshold. 

Thus, the system actually suppresses columns (that are individually above the threshold) by adding them to the suppressed group, to ensure the suppressed group’s sum is also above the threshold. By doing this, only one group is now available to view in the crosstab. However with the toggle “Don’t show anything if only 1 column had enough data” also selected, West will also be suppressed as this toggle does not allow only 1 column of data to appear. As all groups are suppressed based on both exclusion rule filter and don’t show 1 column toggles, the crosstab will not display any groupings and instead will display the following message: “No Breakouts for this demographic are available".

Exclusion Rule Filtering in the Manager Hierarchy - Filter & Crosstab

Viewing a manager’s hierarchy within the Filter Data tool or the Demographic Crosstab will function just as any demographic will within those tools. A manager that meets the minimum threshold may be suppressed if there are other below-threshold managers in the view whose sum doesn’t meet the minimum threshold. This would include a manager whose overall team minus the manager under them results in a difference below the minimum threshold.

Manager Hierarchy Example: with a minimum threshold of 5

In Example 5, the above-threshold Manager B is also suppressed in order to ensure the suppressed group’s sum (B, E, G) is above the threshold.

In Example 6, the above-threshold Manager C is also suppressed so that the suppressed manager count of Manager C and D is above the minimum threshold.

In Example 7, filtering into Manager A is blocked because the difference between them and Manager B under them is (3). This difference is below the threshold of 5, and according to the Exclusion Rule Filter, “No filter may be applied, where the non-filtered option’s sum (remainder) is below the minimum threshold.” In this case, the remainder is the difference between the hierarchy of Manager A (9) and their subordinate (6) which is (3).