The Prototype Approach

Eleanor Rosch proposed The Prototype Approach which states that we organize our categories based on a prototype, which is an idealized item that is the typical representative of the category. An example of this would be a green bean is my prototype for the category vegetable.
Inclusion into a category is based on the comparison of the item to the prototype.
1. Example: the prototype I have for a table is it is made of wood, it has four legs, the top is smooth and flat, and its shape is a square. Therefore I would include all square, flat topped, four legged, and wooden pieces of furniture into my category of table.
Levels of categorization
• Superordinate-level categories are our more general categories. For example: appliance, lumber, vehicle.
• Basic-level categories are a little more specific. They identify objects. For example: stove, plywood, and car. Rosch and colleagues asked people to look at pictures and identify the objects. They found that people used the basic level category to identify the objects. In other words, they identified objects by their common name. They also found that the basic level name is given faster than the subordinate level name.
Basic-level names induce the priming effect. This means that you will respond faster to an item if a similar item preceded it.
• Subordinate-level categories are more specific. For example: wood stove, outdoor treated plywood, sports car.
2. Let me show you a few another example.
• Superordinate-level category-meat
• Basic-level category-beef
• Subordinate-level category-ground beef(hamburger)
3. Now you try using these Superordinate-level categories:
• Clothing
• Furniture
• Home
Reference:
Matlin, M.W. (2005),Cognition (6th ed.) Wiley and Sons