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Hasty Generalization

F082 • Informal - Induction/Generalization

Also known as: Converse Accident, Faulty Generalization, Insufficient Sample

Difficulty 3/10Medium LoadExtremely Common

Definition

Drawing a general conclusion from insufficient, unrepresentative, or biased sample.

Why Invalid

A few instances or an unrepresentative sample cannot reliably establish a general pattern.

Examples

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Scope of Applicability

  1. Identify the sample size
  2. Assess representativeness of sample
  3. Check for selection bias
  4. Compare to known population statistics if available
  5. Determine if confounding variables present

Common Mistakes

  • Unclear threshold for 'hasty' vs 'reasonable'
  • Not accounting for prior probability
  • Confusing with legitimate probabilistic reasoning
  • Personal experience feels more compelling than statistics

Related Concepts

Anecdotal EvidenceReverse CausationReification

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F086 Anecdotal Evidence
Return to 3.2 Drawing Conclusions