Loosening a concept’s attributes increases the number of cases it covers

Evidence

Central to the Sartori and Collier literature on concepts is a concern with“conceptual stretching.” Conceptual stretching occurs when concepts are loosened up so that they apply to additional cases. In the philosophical literature this is the contrast between extension and intension. The classic principle was that as we loosen the concept (i.e., decrease intension) we increase its extension (number of empirical cases). — Gary Goertz, Social Science Concepts, 111

Categorization

• DEFINE: Gives the standard definition of conceptual stretching and the intension/extension vocabulary it rests on.