Concepts used in theoretical propositions occupy a cognitively basic level

Evidence

The most important level theoretically is usually the concept as used in theoretical propositions, such as “corporatism,” “democracy,” or “welfare state.” This I refer to as the basic level. It is“basic” in the sense of Eleanor Rosch and her colleagues; it is cognitively central. It is the noun to which we attach adjectives (Collier and Levitsky 1997) such as parliamentary democracy or democratic corporatism. The basic level is what we use in theoretical propositions. — Gary Goertz, Social Science Concepts, 82

Categorization

• XREF: Rosch’s basic-level cognitive categories connect to prototype and categorization theory in psychology; Collier and Levitsky’s adjective-noun structure connects to later conceptual-stretching debates in comparative politics.
• SEED: Angle: why ‘democracy’ behaves like ‘chair’ — importing cognitive science’s basic-level categories into comparative concept analysis.