Degeneralize
To remove or reverse the process of generalization; to move from a broad or general category or principle towards more specific instances, details, or individual applications. Degeneralization involves the focused exploration of particulars after initial broad characterizations or assumptions. It often entails examining specific cases, scenarios, or data points to refine or challenge a pre-existing generalized understanding. This process is useful in various fields to provide greater clarity.
Degeneralize meaning with examples
- After initially generalizing about all teenagers, the researcher decided to degeneralize their study by interviewing students at different schools, exploring their diverse interests and academic achievements. This provided a more nuanced understanding of adolescent life beyond initial assumptions about teenage behavior and trends.
- The historian sought to degeneralize his account of the Industrial Revolution. He transitioned from broad economic trends to a close study of specific factory towns, analyzing local conditions and the lived experiences of individual workers to understand the complex social impact.
- The marketing team needed to degeneralize its advertising campaign. Rather than targeting 'all consumers,' it analyzed customer data to identify specific demographic segments and tailored personalized ads to their needs and preferences to increase conversion rates.
- The artist, after initially sketching a generalized cityscape, aimed to degeneralize their drawing. They began to meticulously render individual buildings, adding architectural details and focusing on specific textures and light to give the painting greater realism and character.