How should a report handle discrepancies or conflicting information?

• A. Rely on the most favorable source
• B. Document discrepancies, seek corroboration, and annotate with notes for follow-up
• C. Delete conflicting data
• D. Publish immediately

Answer: (B)

When a report contains discrepancies, the best approach is to preserve an audit trail by documenting the conflicting items, seeking corroboration from additional sources, and annotating the report with notes for follow-up. Documenting discrepancies means recording exact statements, dates, times, and sources as they appear, so readers can see what is in dispute and what needs reconciliation. Seek corroboration by checking with other witnesses, reviewing additional records, cross-referencing logs or videos, or obtaining independent documents to verify facts before drawing conclusions. Annotate with notes for follow-up, including what needs to be resolved, who to contact, any contacts or evidence to obtain, and a timeline for revisiting the issue. This process keeps the report accurate, transparent, and reliable, and it preserves credibility for later review or accountability. Rushing to favor a source, deleting conflicting data, or publishing without resolution risks bias, loss of information, and damage to trust and integrity.