Which of the following describes a disadvantage of a supervisor investigating his or her own incident?

• A. Unbiased
• B. Thorough
• C. Timely
• D. Defensive

Answer: (A)

Independence in an investigation is essential because objectivity can be compromised when the investigator has a personal stake in the incident. A supervisor who investigates their own incident is likely to become defensive, trying to justify actions, shield themselves from blame, or downplay findings that reflect poorly on them. This defensiveness undermines credibility and can lead to biased conclusions, incomplete evidence collection, and a focus on protecting the supervisor rather than uncovering root causes. While being unbiased, thorough, or timely are desirable qualities, self-investigation makes defensiveness the most plausible and harmful consequence. The practical takeaway is to use independent or external investigators to preserve objectivity and ensure the investigation accurately identifies what happened and why.