Internal controls are procedures and checks to prevent errors or fraud. Which example illustrates a control relevant to assessment data integrity?

Internal controls are procedures and checks to prevent errors or fraud. Which example illustrates a control relevant to assessment data integrity?

• A. Requiring supervisor approval for all value changes.
• B. Posting the annual budget online.
• C. Allowing staff to change values without review.
• D. Publicly releasing raw data without redactions.

Answer: (A)

Internal controls are safeguards that prevent unauthorized changes and ensure the data stays accurate and trustworthy. Requiring supervisor approval for all value changes is a classic example of such a control because it creates a formal review and authorization step before any modification is made. This adds accountability, makes changes traceable, and helps catch mistakes or deliberate edits before they affect assessment results. In the context of assessment data integrity, this kind of oversight is essential to maintain reliable, defensible data. The other scenarios don’t provide the same protective effect. Posting the annual budget online enhances transparency but doesn’t directly prevent or detect unauthorized changes to assessment data. Allowing staff to change values without review invites errors or manipulation, undermining integrity. Publicly releasing raw data without redactions touches privacy and data exposure issues rather than reinforcing internal safeguards to protect data accuracy.

Internal controls are safeguards that prevent unauthorized changes and ensure the data stays accurate and trustworthy. Requiring supervisor approval for all value changes is a classic example of such a control because it creates a formal review and authorization step before any modification is made. This adds accountability, makes changes traceable, and helps catch mistakes or deliberate edits before they affect assessment results. In the context of assessment data integrity, this kind of oversight is essential to maintain reliable, defensible data.

The other scenarios don’t provide the same protective effect. Posting the annual budget online enhances transparency but doesn’t directly prevent or detect unauthorized changes to assessment data. Allowing staff to change values without review invites errors or manipulation, undermining integrity. Publicly releasing raw data without redactions touches privacy and data exposure issues rather than reinforcing internal safeguards to protect data accuracy.