[Sigia-l] Serious Discussion of IA Research?

[Sarah Brodwall]

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004 13:59:11 -0800 (PST), bill pawlak
<billpawlak at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > Actually it isn't irrelevant at all, because the same "law" states
> > that for people who are specialists in some area, the more specific
> > levels may serve the same purpose as the basic levels do for
> > non-specialists, and for people who have stopped using their sensory
> > facilities for some reason or another, a more general level might
> > serve the same purpose as the basic level does for most people.
> 
> At an abstract level, it's a very interesting point.  Is there a term
> to describe what you're referring to?
> 
> I still have to question whether or not it's a "law" or on the same
> level as something like gravity is, though (which what was originally
> suggested as being needed...)

I wouldn't call it a law, no.  I don't know if there can be laws where
human psychology is concerned.  Eleanor Rosch came up with these ideas
in the 70's, and she called her theory "the theory of prototypes and
basic-level categories".  The things we're talking about now are the
basic-level categories.

~Sarah