How should records be adjusted according to standard practice?

How should records be adjusted according to standard practice?

• A. Use industry standards and apply the same adjustment method to all records
• B. Use arbitrary methods per dataset
• C. Do not adjust records
• D. Adjust only a subset

Answer: (C)

Preserve the original data. In standard practice, records are kept unmodified to maintain integrity, traceability, and reproducibility. If you need to account for differences, you handle it during data processing with clearly documented methods (like calibration, normalization, or batch-effect adjustments) rather than editing the stored records themselves. Changing the records would bias results and erase the original evidence, and applying arbitrary methods, or adjusting only a subset, would create inconsistencies across datasets. So the best approach is to leave records as they are and apply any justified adjustments in the analysis phase with a transparent, auditable protocol.

Preserve the original data. In standard practice, records are kept unmodified to maintain integrity, traceability, and reproducibility. If you need to account for differences, you handle it during data processing with clearly documented methods (like calibration, normalization, or batch-effect adjustments) rather than editing the stored records themselves. Changing the records would bias results and erase the original evidence, and applying arbitrary methods, or adjusting only a subset, would create inconsistencies across datasets. So the best approach is to leave records as they are and apply any justified adjustments in the analysis phase with a transparent, auditable protocol.