CompTIA Data+ DA0-002 (V2) Practice Question

The correct answer is to run a simple aggregate query directly against the source table. When a report shows unexpected values, the first step is to determine if the issue is with the source data itself or with the analysis process (like the query or BI tool). A simple query like COUNT(*) or MAX(transaction_date) quickly checks the completeness and freshness of the data at its source. This action isolates the data source from other variables, such as the complex reporting query or the BI tool's rendering, making it the most direct and efficient first step in troubleshooting.

• Re-authenticating the database connection is less likely to be the issue because data is being returned, just an incorrect amount. A credential failure would typically result in a connection error, not incomplete data.
• Consulting the sales team introduces business context before the technical data validation is complete. An analyst should first confirm the data's integrity before escalating to business stakeholders to avoid raising false alarms.
• Enabling verbose logging is a more advanced troubleshooting step, useful for complex query or server issues, but it is not the most direct first step for simply validating the state of the source data.