Sample representativeness in induction – UGC NET Question

A representative sample mirrors the relevant characteristics of the larger population, such as proportions of key traits. When a sample is representative, findings drawn from it are more likely to hold for the population, thereby strengthening the inductive generalisation. Bias or distortion in the sample undermines this support. Thus the factor identified in the question is the representativeness of the sample.

Option A:
Option A, emotional appeal, may influence how persuasive an argument feels but does not improve its logical reliability. Emotional factors do not ensure that the sample accurately reflects the population and therefore do not strengthen the inductive inference.

Option B:
Option B, novelty, merely indicates that the sample is new or recently collected. Novel data can still be biased or unrepresentative, so novelty alone is not a key determinant of inductive strength.

Option C:
Option C is correct because representativeness addresses whether the sample is a microcosm of the population with respect to the property being studied. Only when this condition is met can we reasonably extend sample-based conclusions to the larger group.

Option D:
Option D, convenience, refers to selecting cases that are easy to access, which often results in biased samples. Convenience sampling tends to weaken the reliability of generalisations rather than strengthen them.