disaggregation
n. the process of breaking down data into smaller units or sets of observations. For example, faculty salary data initially may show a significant difference between male and female earnings. After disaggregating the data into separate levels (e.g., assistant, associate, full professor), however, one may find that there are no significant differences in salary among men and women at the assistant professor level but there are differences at the full professor level. Thus, disaggregating the data reveals a finer pattern. Compare aggregation.