| analogical argument | An argument in which something that is said to hold true of a sample of a certain class is claimed also to hold true of another member of the class.
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| biased sample | A sample that is not representative.
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| confidence level | See statistical significance.
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| difference in question | In relevant-difference reasoning, one item is said to have a feature ("the feature in question") that other similar items lack, and there is said to be only one other relevant difference ("the difference in question") between the item that has the feature in question and the other items that don't have the feature in question.
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| error margin | A range of possibilities; specifically, a range of percentage points within which the conclusion of a statistical inductive generalization falls, usually given as "plus or minus" a certain number of points.
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| feature in question | See difference in question.
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| gambler's fallacy | The belief that recent past events in a series can influence the outcome of the next event in the series. This reasoning is fallacious when the events have a predictable ratio of results, as is the case in flipping a coin, where the predictable ratio of heads to tails is 50-50.
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| generalization | An argument offered in support of a general claim.
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| hasty conclusion, fallacy of | A fallacy of inductive arguments that occurs when conclusions are drawn from a sample that is too small.
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| hasty generalization, fallacy of | A generalization based on a sample too small to be representative.
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| inductive argument | An invalid argument whose premises are intended to provide some support, but less than conclusive support, for the conclusion.
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| inductive generalization | See generalization.
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| law of large numbers | A rule stating that the larger the number of chance-determined, repetitious events considered, the closer the alternatives will approach predictable ratios. Example: The more times you flip a coin, the closer the results will approach 50 percent heads and 50 percent tails.
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| predictable ratio | The ratio that results of a series of events can be expected to have given the antecedent conditions of the series. Examples: The predictable ratio of a fair coin flip is 50 percent heads and 50 percent tails; the predictable ratio of sevens coming up when a pair of dice is rolled is 1 in 6, or just under 17 percent.
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| property in question | In inductive generalizations and analogical arguments, the members of a sample are said to have a property. This property is the "property in question."
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| random selection process | Method of drawing a sample from a target population so that each member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
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| representative sample | A sample that possesses all relevant features of a target population and possesses them in proportions that are similar to those of the target population.
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| sample | That part of a class referred to in the premises of a generalizing argument.
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| sample size | One of the variables that can affect the size of the error margin or the confidence level of certain inductive arguments.
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| statistical significance | To say that some finding is statistically significant at a given confidence level--say, .05--is essentially to say that the finding could have arisen by chance in only about five cases out of one hundred.
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| target | In the conclusion of an inductive generalization, the members of an entire class of things is said to have a property or feature. This class is the "target" or "target class." In the conclusion of an analogical argument one or more individual things is said to have a property or feature. The thing or things is the "target" or "target item."
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| target class | The population, or class, referred to in the conclusion of a generalizing argument.
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