EVALUATING INDUCTIVE GENERALIZATIONS

Two questions to determine whether inductive generalizations are strong or weak:

1. Is the sample size large enough

- an essential factor in determining whether the conclusion about the population
as a whole is justified or not.
- A sample is large enough when it is clear that we have not rushed to
judgment, that we have not formed hasty generalizations.
- Rule of thumb: The more samples, the stronger the argument becomes.

Converse accident (hasty generalization)- A person erroneously creates a

general rule from observing too few cases. Illogical
creation of a binding universal rule based upon insufficient
data (807 Supp 1376)

- In determining the sufficiency of the quantity of the sample, the quantity of

the whole population needs to be considered.
2. Is the sample representative?
- Biased sample - the generalization may be weak if the three hundred students
only represent a particular portion of the whole student population.
- Samples may also be biased when surveys require
participant to initiate contact rather than using a survey
taker to actively solicit responses.
- A sample is representative if there is diversity in the sample.
- Samples coming from different subgroups is a representative sample. This is
especially important then the population is heterogenous.
- Random sample- one which all members of the target have an equal
opportunity to be in the sample.

- the aim in creating a random sample is to ensure that the

diversity of the target is reflected by the sample.
 - surveys are usually reliable since the sample taken is
random representing different sectors o groups of the whole
population, that means, the respondents come from
different regions of the country, socio-economic classes,
age groups and so on.
- When we cannot do much about our sample, we can make our generalizations
acceptable by formulating an appropriate conclusion.
- A good inductive argument should make a conclusion that is appropriate to
the evidence offered by its premise. The conclusion should not claim more
than its premise could support.

Example No. 1.

All ten Malaysians I met are good in business.

So, most Malaysians are good in business.

Conclusion claims most Malaysian are good in business but cited only ten Malaysians.
To make conclusion less sweeping, the conclusion should cover less ground such as:

All ten of the Malaysians I met are good in business.

So, many Malaysians are good in business.

Remember: Inductive generalizations should not overstate their conclusions.

Example No. 2.

None of the teachers I met in this school knows how to speak Spanish.

So, no teacher in this school knows how to speak Spanish.

Conclusion is so sweeping that the argument is not strong. To play it safe:

Very few, if any, teachers in this school knows how to speak Spanish.

Although still sweeping conclusion, it allows for possibility of a few exceptions. This
makes the conclusion likely to be true and thus the argument is strong.