Ecological Fallacy

Ecological fallacy refers to the error made when we assume that what is true for a group applies to its individuals. For example, if a city has high average incomes and low crime rates, one might incorrectly conclude that all individuals in that city are wealthy and law-abiding. This fallacy overlooks individual differences and characteristics. Data aggregated at the group level can hide important variations and lead to misleading assumptions about individual behaviors or attributes. Understanding this concept is crucial for accurately interpreting statistics and making informed conclusions about social issues.