What is the "fallacy of hasty generalization"?

The fallacy of hasty generalization occurs when a conclusion is drawn from a sample that is too small to be representative of the broader population. This logical fallacy often leads to inaccurate conclusions and generalizations based on insufficient evidence. For instance, if someone were to conclude that all cats are friendly based on a few encounters with a couple of friendly cats, they are not considering the wider variety of temperaments in the broader cat population.

In contrast, a sample that adequately reflects the various groups in a population, accurately reflects the presence of a quality in the entire population, or involves a method where every member of the population had an equal chance of being selected would support more reliable conclusions. These conditions ensure that the sample can provide a valid representation of the larger group, reducing the risk of forming a hasty or unfounded generalization.