Which of the following is a type of recording unit?

The correct choice identifies a type of recording unit as the exact author-defined words and phrases. This approach emphasizes the importance of capturing the precise language used by authors in qualitative research. Such detailed recording units allow researchers to maintain the integrity of the original data, ensuring that the analysis reflects the meanings intended by the authors themselves. By focusing on exact wording, researchers can perform in-depth analyses, such as thematic coding or content analysis, which require attention to linguistic nuances.

In contrast, the other options do not fit the definition of a recording unit. The general subject of the text provides an overview but lacks the specificity necessary for detailed analysis. Statistical summaries of data aggregate information and can obscure individual voices and meanings. Visual representations of themes may help convey findings but do not serve as recording units themselves; rather, they are tools for presenting the results of the analysis. Thus, the choice of exact author-defined words and phrases is the most appropriate representation of a type of recording unit in the context of qualitative research.