Beware the Broad Brushstroke

Psychological research often falls into the trap of overgeneralization, where specific findings from narrow studies are mistakenly applied to broad populations. Researchers tend to conclude that their results reflect universal truths about human cognition when, in reality, they only pertain to their particular sample. This misstep undermines the scientific method's purpose of falsifying hypotheses and hinders the refinement of theories. Accurate interpretation is crucial to maintain the integrity of experimental findings and avoid inaccuracies in claims about human memory and cognition.