individualsingle

Individualsingle is a term that has emerged in certain discussions of data representation and research methodology. It is not widely standardized, but is generally used to describe a single, self-contained unit that corresponds to one person within a dataset or study. The word fuses individual with single to emphasize that the unit represents a single person rather than a group, cohort, or aggregate.

In practice, an individualsingle may refer to a database row or record in which all fields pertain to one respondent or subject. In survey design and data governance, treating data as individualsingles can help clarify ownership, access, and privacy controls at the level of the individual. Some authors use the term to highlight the contrast between person-level data and aggregated statistics.

Origins of the term are unclear and it does not appear in major reference works. It has appeared sporadically in online discussions, methodological blogs, and some experimental studies focused on data units and record structures.

See also: individual, single, unit of analysis, data point, person-level data, privacy by design.

As a relatively niche coinage, its exact scope and meaning may differ by context. Readers encountering the term should look to the specific author's definition to determine how an individualsingle is being used.