No. #45

Group Attribution Error
- Oversimplifying Group Behaviors

The group attribution error is the tendency to broadly attribute the behavior of an individual to the group to which they belong, rather than to individual or situational factors. This can influence user research and market segmentation, potentially leading to oversimplified assumptions about user groups.

Read more on Wikipedia

Product example

Assuming all users in a demographic group have the same preferences can lead to misinformed product development decisions.

Empathy tips

1

Individual Behavior Analysis

Analyze behaviors at the individual level as well as the group level.

2

Diverse User Research

Conduct diverse and inclusive user research to capture a broad range of behaviors.

3

Avoid Overgeneralization

Actively work to avoid overgeneralizing from a sample to the entire group.

4

Segmentation Refinement

Regularly refine segmentation models to ensure they reflect individual differences within groups.

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Anna Lundqvist
UX & AI ethics expert driving better products and smarter teams.
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Eddy Salzmann
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Ola Möller
Facilitator helping organisations see the big picture and take action.