In articles I often come across phrases like "the majority of the respondents (e.g., 37%)"... Can one say so, or they should constitute at least 50%+?
Technically, "the majority of the respondents" implies that more than 50% of the total respondents are being referred to. However, in some cases, authors may use "the majority" to refer to the largest group of respondents, even if that group falls short of 50%. This usage could be seen as misleading, so it is generally recommended to use more precise language when referring to specific percentages or groups within a larger population. Instead, authors could say "the largest group of respondents" or "the group with the highest percentage of respondents."
Thank you, I completely agree with you. I just read it in some articles, more than that with misleading conclusions that the majority of the respondents ... (as if things were file, while they were not).
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Psychology