nonstandardized

Nonstandardized is an adjective describing something that has not been brought into conformity with a standard or norm, or has not undergone a formal process to fit a defined set of criteria. The term is used across domains to indicate a lack of uniformity, calibration, or comparability relative to a standard reference.

In data analysis, nonstandardized data refers to raw measurements that retain their original units and scales. Such data may not be directly comparable across variables or datasets without transformation. Standardization (or normalization) is often applied to enable comparisons, statistical modeling, or pooling results from different sources. Examples include height measured in centimeters versus inches, or temperature in Celsius across laboratories.

In measurement and testing, nonstandardized instruments or assessments are not calibrated to a common protocol or normative framework. Administration, scoring, and interpretation may vary, limiting cross-site comparability. Nonstandardized tests can be flexible for local or exploratory purposes but typically lack the reliability and validity benchmarks established for standardized assessments.

Etymology and usage notes: the prefix non- attaches to standardized. The term can signal potential limitations in comparability, repeatability, or generalizability. In practice, researchers and practitioners choose standardization, normalization, or calibration when consistent comparisons are required, while retaining nonstandardized data or measures when preserving original scales is desirable.