After noting that a majority of professional basketball players are African-American,Ervin concluded that African-Americans are better athletes than members of other racial groups.Ervin's conclusion best illustrates the danger of
A) replication.
B) random assignment.
C) the placebo effect.
D) generalizing from vivid cases.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ervin's conclusion is an example of generalizing from a vivid case or a specific example. This fallacy occurs when we make sweeping generalizations based on a single, notable event or observation. In this case, Ervin is generalizing about the athletic ability of an entire racial group based on the performance of a select group of individuals. This is a flawed and potentially harmful way of thinking that can perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

After Noting That a Majority of Professional Basketball Players Are