yleistettävä

Yleistettävä is a Finnish adjective derived from the verb yleistää, which means to generalize. It denotes something that can be generalized beyond the specific cases in which it was observed, i.e., it is generalizable or broadly applicable. The word is formed as a present passive participle with the suffix -ttava and is typically used attributively, for instance in phrases like yleistettävä sääntö (a generalizable rule) or yleistettävä ilmiö (a generalizable phenomenon).

Usage and context: The term is common in academic and analytical writing, where researchers assess the generalizability of findings, rules, or theoretical claims. It helps distinguish between results that apply only to a limited setting and those that extend to wider populations or contexts. In practice, yleistettävä expresses potential or suitability for generalization rather than guaranteeing it.

Related terms and nuances: Yleistäminen is the corresponding noun for the act of generalizing (generalization). Yleistettävä is often discussed alongside related concepts such as yleispätevä, which can mean universally valid or broadly applicable. The distinction emphasizes different levels of generality: generalizability (yleistettävä) versus universal applicability (yleispätevä).