What should guide all measurement work?

• A. It should be done quickly
• B. It should be based on personal bias
• C. It should be factual and pertinent to the case
• D. It should maximize the number of measurements

Answer: (C)

Measurements should be factual and pertinent to the case. This means gathering objective, verifiable data that can be reproduced and directly supports establishing what happened. Use calibrated tools, follow standard procedures, and document conditions and methods so others can review the results. Rushing through measurements increases the chance of mistakes, and letting personal bias influence data can skew findings. Simply collecting a lot of measurements isn’t better by itself—what matters is choosing the right measurements and performing them accurately so they relate to the case facts. When measurements are objective and relevant, they provide a solid, defensible basis for the investigation and reporting.