Generalization is a situation when people may miss a lot of details to make a simple claim. In particular, it is a case when people make a general judgment on a specific concept. For example, this situation is common when students at colleges and universities learn about the concept of generalization. However, the process leads to missing a lot of details since only important points are covered. As a result, the whole representation of elements can be changed while critical thinking develops the understanding of it. Therefore, the generalization process means summing up general aspects to make a judgment.
The Definition of Generalization
Basically, generalization is one of the writing strategies through which humans extend the characteristic of an element compared to objective writing. For instance, the element can be people, animals, events, or other objects. In this case, the generalization process may lead to vague information. As students extend knowledge, they make wrong inferences. Hence, generalization motivates learners to have a simplified representation of learned concepts. Although it is a problem that causes people to have an incorrect understanding of things, teachers can solve this issue by training them to be critical thinkers, providing related knowledge to real-life situations.
Understanding Generalization
Firstly, generalization leads to a wrong understanding. For example, it narrows the understanding abilities of some ideas. Through learning, students understand the basic features of objects. In the case of generalization, learners conclude that all elements within a category have specific traits. An excellent example is when a learner gets the impression that a cobra is venomous and finds that all snakes are poisonous. Hence, the person may get the wrong representation of the nature of snakes. Besides, it may prevent students from learning different traits in various snakes. Therefore, generalization may lead to missing details.
Real-Life Examples
Then, teachers can explain the problem of generalization to learners by using real-life examples. For example, the teacher can use related things with different characteristics in every lesson. In this case, the person can explain that things that may seem to have similar characteristics are different. Besides, assuming that comparable objects have similar traits is a generalization. Therefore, using actual experience can help in explaining the meaning of generalization.
Generalization and Critical Thinking
Moreover, helping learners to be critical thinkers in generalization can help people to develop. For instance, critical thinking allows persons to compare some features in different objects. In this case, this training enables them to become broad and adventurous thinkers, generate innovative solutions, and rely on reasoning to analyze or evaluate concepts. Besides, it expands the abilities of a learner to engage his creativity when analyzing various situations. For example, learning about a cobra can have the urge to find other snakes with similar traits. Exploring other snakes can make a learner appreciate the diversity in their characteristics because of generalization. As a result, students can avoid generalizing that all snakes have similar characteristics. Therefore, training persons discourage them from generalizing ideas and learned things.
Conclusion
In conclusion, generalization hinders active learning. Basically, students who generalize concepts have a narrow understanding of various ideas. Through generalization, they assume that related objects are similar in all traits. However, actual examples teach persons to appreciate that things may have minor differences. Hence, the approach prevents learners from simplifying concepts. Moreover, training learners to be critical thinkers can prevent this problem. In particular, students can relate objects and seek to find similarities and differences. Along these lines, they develop a deeper understanding of the situation and avoid simplifying knowledge. Therefore, generalizing experience makes people miss ideas, but teachers can solve the problem through critical thinking. In turn, people may use essay writing service to help with generalization assignments.