parameters: (data, valid_values, field=None, default=None)
docstring: Validate and correct string value(s) in a dictionary key or list,
      or a string by itself.
  
      :param data: The data to be verified and corrected.
      :type data: dict, list of strings, or str
      :param valid_values: Key with simplified string, value with actual string
      :type valid_values: dict
      :param field: The dictionary key containing the data.
      :type field: str
      :param default: A value to use if an invalid item cannot be corrected
      :type default: str
      :returns: the validated/corrected value(str), list of values(list) or ''
docstring_summary: Validate and correct string value(s) in a dictionary key or list,
      or a string by itself.
docstring_tokens: Validate and correct string value ( s ) in a dictionary key or list or a string by itself .
function: def get_verified_field(data, valid_values, field=None, default=None):
      """
      Validate and correct string value(s) in a dictionary key or list,
      or a string by itself.
  
      :param data: The data to be verified and corrected.
      :type data: dict, list of strings, or str
      :param valid_values: Key with simplified string, value with actual string
      :type valid_values: dict
      :param field: The dictionary key containing the data.
      :type field: str
      :param default: A value to use if an invalid item cannot be corrected
      :type default: str
      :returns: the validated/corrected value(str), list of values(list) or ''
      """
  
      if isinstance(data, dict):
          data = data.get(field, '')
      if isinstance(data, list):
          value_list = data
      else:
          value_list = [data]
      for i, item in enumerate(value_list):
          if isinstance(item, basestring):
              item = item.lower().strip().replace(' - ', '-')
              if item in valid_values:
                  value_list[i] = valid_values[item]
                  continue
          if default is not None:
              item = default
              continue
          return ''
      if isinstance(data, list):
          return value_list
      else:
          return value_list[0]
function_tokens: def get_verified_field ( data , valid_values , field = None , default = None ) : if isinstance ( data , dict ) : data = data . get ( field , '' ) if isinstance ( data , list ) : value_list = data else : value_list = [ data ] for i , item in enumerate ( value_list ) : if isinstance ( item , basestring ) : item = item . lower ( ) . strip ( ) . replace ( ' - ' , '-' ) if item in valid_values : value_list [ i ] = valid_values [ item ] continue if default is not None : item = default continue return '' if isinstance ( data , list ) : return value_list else : return value_list [ 0 ]