What is a common outcome of applying normalization steps to a database?

Applying normalization steps to a database primarily enhances data integrity and reduces anomalies. Normalization is a systematic approach to organizing data in a database to minimize redundancy and dependency. The process involves decomposing tables into smaller, related tables and defining relationships between them, which eliminates duplicate data, allows for consistent data updates, and maintains the accuracy of the information stored.

By ensuring that each piece of data is stored only once, normalization helps prevent issues such as update anomalies, insert anomalies, and delete anomalies. This means that when data is modified, there is less risk of inconsistency, leading to a more reliable database overall. For example, if a researcher needs to update a patient's information, normalization ensures that only one record needs to be changed rather than multiple ones, thereby maintaining integrity and accuracy in the database.

While normalization can sometimes result in more complex database schemas, its primary purpose is to enhance the reliability and consistency of the data, which is why this outcome is the most notable benefit of database normalization.