1. the practice of relying on anecdotes rather than systematic evidence or data
Usage: often used critically in academic or scientific contexts

Examples

• The researcher criticized the study for its anecdotalism rather than rigorous data collection.
• Medical decisions should be based on clinical trials, not anecdotalism.
• The debate suffered from anecdotalism when participants shared personal stories instead of citing statistics.
• Scientists warn against anecdotalism in evaluating new treatments.
• The policy proposal was weakened by its reliance on anecdotalism.
• Academic journals discourage anecdotalism in favor of peer-reviewed evidence.