Nursing Professional Development Certification (NPD-BC) Practice Exam

If a nurse responds to a workshop stating, "I didn't learn anything new; these workshops are a waste of time," this exemplifies which logical fallacy?

1. missing the point

2. slippery slope

3. hasty generalization

4. false dichotomy

The correct answer is: hasty generalization

The nurse's statement reflects a hasty generalization, which occurs when a conclusion is drawn based on insufficient evidence or a limited sample size. In this case, the nurse declares that all workshops are a waste of time based solely on a single experience in which they perceived no new learning. This type of reasoning overlooks the value that could be gained from other workshops or from the same workshop with different perspectives or needs. Hasty generalization can often hinder professional growth, as individuals may dismiss opportunities for learning based on a singular negative experience. It highlights the importance of approaching education and professional development with an open mind and considering that each situation may differ in what it offers. In contrast, the other choices reflect different logical fallacies that do not apply to the nurse's statement in this context, emphasizing the specificity of the situation leading to the conclusion of hasty generalization.