Which of the following is NOT one of the core data quality dimensions (validity may be considered a fifth)?

• A. Validity
• B. Accuracy
• C. Completeness
• D. Timeliness

Answer: (A)

Data quality is often described by a core set of traits: accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and consistency. These describe whether data correctly reflect real-world facts (accuracy), whether all required information is present (completeness), whether data are up-to-date (timeliness), and whether data definitions and values are uniform across systems (consistency). Validity, while important, is typically treated as an additional dimension beyond the core four. It concerns whether values conform to predefined formats, ranges, and domain rules, which many frameworks list as a fifth dimension rather than part of the core quartet. Therefore, validity is not one of the core data quality dimensions. The other three—accuracy, completeness, and timeliness—do fit as core dimensions.