A majority of North Carolinians are opposed to having the Ten Commandments posted in each public school classroom.  This was the conclusion of a state-wide survey in which residents were randomly selected in Fayetteville, Raleigh, and Charlotte and asked to answer a series of questions about the matter.  Over 80% of respondents were against posting the Ten Commandments in public schools.

Sample:  North Carolinians.

Population:   people who answered a survey in Fayetteville, Raleigh, and Charltotte.

The sample is biased because people living in rural areas or the country were excluded from the possibility of  being included in the sample.

I bought three tomatoes from the new produce store down the street and all three  were bad.  I suppose that new store doesn't have any produce worth buying.

Sample:  The three tomatoes I bought.

Population:  All produce sold at the new store.

This is a hasty generalization, because the sample is only three tomatoes.

Dr. Carl Marx, political scientist professor at Pugh University, was interested in determining how politically active today's college students are.  On election day he did a survey in each of his classes, and found that 75% of the students had voted that day.  He concluded that if 75% of this students voted then a majority of all students at the university probably voted.

Sample:  Students in Dr. Marx's classes.

Population:  All students at Pugh University.

The sample is biased because students not enrolled in Dr. Marx's classes are excluded from the chance of being included in the sample.  Students in political science classes are more likely to be interested in and involved in politics than the typical college student.

Most students don't like Professor Upton.  I spoke to three students about him, and all of them said to avoid taking his courses at all cost.  In fact, each of them failed his course.

Sample:  Three students the writer spoke to.

Population:  Students at the school

This sample is biased because it includes only people who failed a course from Dr. Upton.  These students are more likely to be negative toward him than the average student.  This could also be considered a hasty generalization since the number in the sample is so small.

A majority of Americans favor legalized gambling to raise money for college scholarships for disadvantaged youth.  In a poll taken in Las Vegas, Nevada, two out of three people surveyed favored the idea.

Sample:  people in Las Vegas who were surveyed.

Population:  Americans

The sample is biased because it includes only people from Las Vegas;  people who do not live in Las Vegas did not have a chance to be included in the sample.  People living in Las Vegas are more likely to favor gambling than the American population in general.

I don't care what they say about college improving your chances of getting a good job.  Just look at Bill Gates.  He never earned a college degree and is the richest man in the world.

This is an example of fallacy of anectdotal evidence.  The person tries to disprove a well-established generalization by referring to one famous example.

We've hired two graduates from FSU, and one of them left after six months for a higher-paying job, while the other one decided to return to school to earn a master's degree.  I don't want to hire any more FSU graduates because they probably won't stay here very long.

Sample:  The two FSU graduates hired.

Population:  All FSU graduates.

This is an example of hasty generalization because the person is drawing a conclusion about all FSU graduates on the basis of just two.  (Unfortunately, employers do often make hasty generalizations about employees.  If one or two employees from a specific school turn out badly, the management will be reluctant to hire other graduates from that school  So remember, when you get a job after you graduate, if you perform poorly, you may be huring someone else's chances for a job.)

A majority of students at FSU believe that the university should require students to purchase a computer.  This conclusion was based on a survey of 200 students conducted via e-mail last week.

Sample:  200 students who completed a survey

Population:  All FSU students

This sample is biased because students who do not regularly check their email were excluded from the possibility of being in the survey.  Those using email are more likely to support the requirement than students who do not use email.

Anthony dated Stephanie who was majoring math.  He found Stephanie to be funny, charming, and smart.  He decided that all math majors must be funny, charming, and smart.

Sample:  Stephanie

Populaiton:  all math majors

This is a hasty generalization, since he draws a conclusion based on too small a sample.

(The following was stated by someone who is not an educator) "All German made cars are good.  I say this because I've owned three Mercedes and each one of them has been an excellent car."

Sample:  the three Mercedes the speak has owned.

Population:  All German cars

The sample is biased because it excludes from the sample cars other than Mercedes.    As one of the most expensive and best cars in the world, Mercedes are much better than the average car.  This is also a hasty generalization in that it bases a claim about all German cars on the experience of only three.

I've heard all the commotion about smoking being bad for your health, but I don't accept it.   My uncles smoked a pack a day and he lived to be 96.