Which of the following would best define the term 'Listwise Deletion'?

The term 'Listwise Deletion' refers to a method used in statistical analysis for handling missing data. Specifically, it involves the practice of excluding entire cases (i.e., rows of data) from the analysis if any of the variables in that case have missing values. This approach is beneficial when maintaining complete data integrity for each case is essential, as it ensures that all included cases have complete data across all variables of interest.

This method is often favored in scenarios where missing data is minimal, as it allows researchers to avoid creating potential bias or complications associated with other techniques, such as imputation, which estimate missing values. Using listwise deletion can yield valid statistical results under the assumption that the data are missing completely at random.

Other methods mentioned in the other choices, like replacing missing data based on averages or verifying data integrity, do not align with the fundamental concept of listwise deletion, which focuses specifically on the exclusion of cases based on the presence of any missing data points.