What is the term for drawing a conclusion too early without fully analyzing the details of an argument?

Prepare for the Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET) (174). Use quizzes that include flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Brace yourself for exam success!

The term for drawing a conclusion too early without fully analyzing the details of an argument is hasty generalization. This fallacy occurs when someone makes a broad claim based on insufficient evidence or a small sample size, leading to conclusions that are not justified by the available data.

A hasty generalization typically arises from jumping to conclusions quickly, failing to consider all relevant information or perspectives. For example, if someone meets two rude individuals from a particular city and concludes that everyone from that city must also be rude, they are committing a hasty generalization by not adequately considering the larger population or context.

In contrast, other choices represent different logical errors. False dichotomy involves presenting two opposing options as the only possibilities, ignoring other alternatives. Circular reasoning occurs when the argument's conclusion is included in its premise, leading to a lack of valid support. Logical fallacy is a broader term that encompasses various fallacious reasoning patterns, but does not specifically address the issue of premature conclusions. Thus, hasty generalization precisely identifies the error of prematurely concluding without comprehensive analysis.

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