DA0-002 Data Concepts and Environments Practice Question
A data analyst is working with a dataset that contains customer names and addresses. Some records have missing state codes. Which data quality issue is this?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse incompleteness with inconsistency, but incompleteness is about missing data (nulls), while inconsistency is about contradictory data across records.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Incompleteness
Incompleteness is the correct answer because missing state codes in customer address records represent a lack of required data. This is a classic example of incomplete data, where fields that should contain values are left null or blank, reducing the dataset's usability for analysis.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Duplication
Why it's wrong here
Duplication means the same record appears multiple times, not that a field within a record is empty. It is tempting because customer datasets often repeat rows, and it would be correct if the same customer and address appeared in several records.
- ✓
Incompleteness
Why this is correct
Incompleteness captures missing values within otherwise present records, which matches the absent state codes precisely. Unlike inaccuracy, which concerns incorrect values, or duplication, incompleteness addresses the null entries the analyst must resolve before geographic analysis. This satisfies the stem's constraint of records lacking required state data.
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Outliers
Why it's wrong here
Outliers are values that deviate markedly from the rest of the distribution, whereas a missing state code is simply absent. It is tempting because address data can contain anomalous values, and it would be correct if a state code were an impossible or wildly improbable entry.
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Inconsistency
Why it's wrong here
Inconsistency means the same attribute is recorded in conflicting formats or values, not absent entirely. It is tempting because missing state codes can accompany inconsistent address entry, and it would be correct if some records stored 'California' while others stored 'CA'.
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Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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