[Year 12 IT Apps] ITA Section A, Q9 - dear o dear.

[Maggie Iaquinto]

The definition of validation is to permit only reasonable data. There is
no way to prevent inaccurate data from being entered. Technically, none
of the answers are correct. 

Maggie

-----Original Message-----
From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Mark Kelly
Sent: Wednesday, 14 November 2007 11:28 AM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] ITA Section A, Q9 - dear o dear.

Validation is used to
A. check the accuracy of calculations.
B. detect software errors and alert the manager.
C. test functions and alert programmers to errors.
D. prevent inaccurate data from entering the system.

This is a worry.  It cannot be D because validation does NOT check the 
ACCURACY of data, only its reasonableness. Even the sacred IT glossary 
says validation checks data input to a system is of an "appropriate type

for processing, and within acceptable boundaries")

B and C are silly.

So are we to accept that validation is used to check the accuracy of 
calculations?  Not really - that's called testing.

I think the question is just plain wrong, and I'm tempted to appeal 
against it on the grounds of factual inaccuracy.

Any other opinions?



-- 
Mark Kelly
Manager - Information Systems
McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Rd, McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085
School Phone +613 8520 9000, Fax +613 95789253
kel AT mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au

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