Which of the following is a common data analysis technique?

Thematic analysis is a common data analysis technique particularly used in qualitative research. This method allows researchers to identify, analyze, and report patterns or themes within qualitative data. It is useful for examining the subjective experiences of participants by organizing data into meaningful categories that reflect the broader narrative of the research context. The flexibility of thematic analysis makes it applicable across various fields, enabling researchers to extract insights from interviews, focus groups, and open-ended survey responses.

Statistical visualization typically involves the representation of data through graphs or charts to convey patterns and trends quantitatively, while qualitative observation is a method of collecting data rather than analyzing it. Casual inference relates to the conclusions drawn about causal relationships between variables, which requires a different analytical approach, often grounded in quantitative data. Thus, while all of the options belong to the realm of data analysis or research methods, thematic analysis stands out as a widely recognized technique for interpreting qualitative data specifically.