PHL 214 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Fallacy, Wisconsin National Guard, Thout
22 Jun 2016
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Can"t give certainty, only high level of probability. Most peace activists i know are kind, so probably all peace activists are kind. Form: x% of observed members of a have property p. therefore x% of all members of a have p. Fails if: 1) sample too small, or 2) sample not representative. Hasty generalization when conclude based on too small. The more homogenous a target is, the smaller a sample can be. Must represent target group in all ways that matter. Enumerative inductive is strong only if sample is representative of whole. If it doesn"t properly represent target, called biased sample. Worth believing if sample size large enough to represent target in all relevant population features and generate accurate data e. g. correct data processing, good questions. Use random sampling so that sample size doesn"t have to be too big. Do not allow survey subjects to choose self--called self-selecting sample .
