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Generalization for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: ,dʒɛnərəlɪ'zeɪʃən

What does Generalization really mean?

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Hey there! Let's dive into the world of knowledge and explore the meaning of "generalization." Imagine you're in a big garden, surrounded by different types of flowers. Each flower has its unique color, shape, and fragrance, right? Well, generalization is like finding a way to group all these flowers together based on their similarities.

So, in simple terms, generalization means making broad statements or conclusions about a big group of things or ideas based on the characteristics or patterns that they share. It's like creating a summary or a bigger picture by looking at smaller details that are alike.

Let's break it down even further with an everyday example: imagine you have a pet dog named Max, who happens to be a golden retriever. Now, if you've seen and interacted with other golden retrievers before, you might start noticing certain similarities. They all have a friendly temperament, a love for fetching balls, and a beautiful golden coat.

Well, using generalization, you can say that golden retrievers, in general, are friendly, enjoy playing fetch, and have golden coats. You've taken your experience with Max and applied it to the broader group of golden retrievers.

Now, let's tackle the second part of your question - multiple definitions of generalization. In addition to the concept we just discussed, generalization can also refer to the act of using knowledge or skills learned in one situation and applying them to a different but similar situation.

Let me explain this with another analogy. Imagine you're learning how to ride a bike. At first, it feels challenging, and you struggle to balance on two wheels. But once you master the skill, you'll find that the ability to balance and pedal can be generalized to many other situations. You can hop on any bike, whether it's big or small, with or without training wheels, and apply your biking skills.

So, when we talk about generalization in this sense, it means using what you've learned or experienced in one context and appropriately applying it to a similar but different context. It's like taking your biking skills and using them on various bikes.

Now, with all that explained, I hope you have a clearer understanding of what generalization means. It's like finding common threads, patterns, or applying your knowledge from one situation to a broader group or a similar but different situation. It's about seeing the bigger picture and making connections. Pretty cool, isn't it?


Revised and Fact checked by Linda Miller on 2023-10-29 04:35:48

Generalization In a sentece

Learn how to use Generalization inside a sentece

  • When we say all dogs like to play, we are making a generalization because we are assuming that every dog enjoys playing.
  • If I say all fruits are sweet, it is a generalization because not every fruit tastes sweet.
  • If we say all birds can fly, it is a generalization because there are some birds like penguins that cannot fly.
  • When someone says all kids love ice cream, it is a generalization because not every child may enjoy eating ice cream.
  • If we assume all teachers are strict, it is a generalization because some teachers can be lenient or easygoing.

Generalization Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

abstraction generalisation generalisation generalisation generalisation generality induction inductive reasoning stimulus generalisation stimulus generalization

Generalization Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

colligation idea theorisation theorization thought transfer transfer of training

Generalization Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.

irradiation principle rule

Generalization Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.

psychological science psychology