Which aspect of data is least likely to be affected if a comprehensive data management plan is followed?

When a comprehensive data management plan is implemented, it primarily focuses on the strategies and procedures for handling data throughout its lifecycle, which includes aspects such as data availability, confidentiality, and integrity.

Data collection methods, on the other hand, refer to the techniques and processes used to gather data from various sources. While a data management plan may outline best practices for managing the data once it has been collected, it does not inherently dictate how the data is collected. This means that the methods and techniques used to gather data could remain unchanged regardless of the robustness of the data management plan.

In contrast, data availability, confidentiality, and integrity are directly influenced by the structures and policies outlined in a comprehensive management plan. Such a plan aims to ensure that data is accessible to authorized users (availability), protected from unauthorized access (confidentiality), and maintained in a reliable and accurate state (integrity). Thus, these aspects are much more susceptible to improvements or changes due to effective data management strategies compared to the methods employed to gather that data.