Assume that Professor Rodgers had studied only people aged 65 or older and found that they experienced increasing levels of happiness in the last 20 years. Suppose he had concluded that people under 65 years of age also experienced increasing levels of happiness during the same time period. He would have committed
A) the error of overgeneralization.
B) the error of selective observation.
C) the error of illogical reasoning.
D) the error of inaccurate observation.
E) no error.

Question

Assume that Professor Rodgers had studied only people aged 65 or older and found that they experienced increasing levels of happiness in the last 20 years. Suppose he had concluded that people under 65 years of age also experienced increasing levels of happiness during the same time period. He would have committed​
A) ​the error of overgeneralization.
B) ​the error of selective observation.
C) ​the error of illogical reasoning.
D) ​the error of inaccurate observation.
E) ​no error.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The professor committed the error of overgeneralization by assuming that what was true for one specific group (people aged 65 or older) was also true for a different group without sufficient evidence.

Assume That Professor Rodgers Had Studied Only People Aged 65