1. universal and statistical
generalizations
 Universal generalization:Universal generalization: claims that all members of a group have certain
attributes or characteristics
– Asians are good at math.
Feminists hate men.
– Republicans favor tax cuts, Democrats oppose tax cuts.
 Statistical generalization:Statistical generalization: claims that a percentage or a portion of a group has
a certain attribute or property.
– 76% of felons are recidivists
– 1 out of 3 children in the U.S. is born out of wedlock
– 19 of the 21 hijackers on Sept. 11 were Saudi Arabians.
 Contingent generalization: based on conditions or qualifications that must be
met for the generalization to hold true. Generalizations are more likely to
hold true if they are confined to specific times, places, or situations
– Most serial killers are male
– The majority of journalists are Democrats

2. inductive and deductive
generalizations
 Two types of generalizations: inductive and deductive
 Inductive GeneralizationInductive Generalization:: bases a larger inference on an
example, sample, or particular instance
– example: Babbs bought a Saturn and it runs well. Biff
bought a Saturn and it runs well. I guess Saturns are
reliable cars. (the generalization is based on a
nonrandom sample of 3 cars)
– example: Of the 19 hijackers on Sept. 11, 15 were
Saudis. I think we can safely conclude that Saudi
Arabia is a breeding ground for terrorists.

3. inductive and deductive
generalizations
 Deductive GeneralizationDeductive Generalization:: proceeds from a
general rule or general principle to a specific case
– example: Brazilians love soccer. Hector is from
Brazil, so he probably loves soccer too.
– example: Don’t give money to that vagrant.
They are all winos and drug addicts.
– example: Biff is a Republican, so of course he’ll
be opposed to gun control.