false analogy

a type of informal fallacy or a persuasive technique in which the fact that two things are alike in one respect leads to the invalid conclusion that they must be alike in some other respect. For example, The brain is in some respects like a computer: Computers receive and store input in discrete bits: Therefore, ideas in the brain are formed from discrete bits of information. See analogy.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

December 19th 2024

qualitative evaluation

an evaluation method that yields narratives gathered primarily from unstructured methods of data collection, naturalistic observation, and existing records. As an initial or divergent phase of program evaluation, it seeks to allow maximum opportunity to frame evaluation objectives. This approach is usually associated with a goal-free evaluation rather than a goal-based evaluation. Compare quantitative evaluation.