abduction Quick reference
A Dictionary of Social Research Methods
A logical method of deriving conclusions from a range of observations. The principle is that one chooses the most likely
ability Quick reference
A Dictionary of Sociology (4 ed.)
The power to perform a mental or physical task—either before or after training. Social psychologists usually distinguish ability from aptitude,
Ābish Khātūn bint Saʿd II (1260–86) Reference library
George Lane
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Women
Ruler of Fārs Province, wife of Mongol prince Tash-Möngke bin Hülegü Khan. A daughter of the Salghurid dynasty whose grandfather,
Ablutions Reference library
Gabriele Tecchiato and Mark Sedgwick
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Women
The state of ritual purity (ṭahārah) that is an essential condition for the fulfillment of many religious practices
abolitionism Quick reference
A Dictionary of Sociology (4 ed.)
A term originally associated with a call for the abolition of slavery on the grounds of its inhumanity (see, for
Abortion Reference library
Carole R. McCann
The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Social History
The legal status of abortion in the United States has undergone dramatic shifts, while its practice has been consistent. Throughout
Abortion Reference library
Abul Fadl Mohsin Ebrahim, Yasmin Safian, Robert Gleave, and Samir Ben-Layashi
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Women
In the medical sense, abortion is the termination of pregnancy before the fetus is viable and is capable of survival
abortion Quick reference
A Dictionary of Gender Studies
The deliberate termination of a human pregnancy. In many countries women may request such a termination within a specific period
abortion on demand Quick reference
A Dictionary of Gender Studies
The phrase refers to women’s right to demand an abortion if they so wish rather than, for example, needing to
absolutism Quick reference
A Dictionary of Sociology (4 ed.)
A strong and centralized form of state typical of societies in the process of transition from *feudalism to *
abstracted empiricism Quick reference
A Dictionary of Sociology (4 ed.)
A term coined by C. Wright Mills in The Sociological Imagination (1959) to refer to the work of those sociologists
a/b test Quick reference
A Dictionary of Social Research Methods
A form of *field experiment whereby the users of a service are randomly allocated to different treatments when they
accelerated longitudinal design Quick reference
A Dictionary of Social Research Methods
A combination of *cross-sectional and *longitudinal designs for the study of individuals over time. An accelerated longitudinal design
ACCESS model Quick reference
A Dictionary of Disaster Management
One of two models, the other being the *pressure and release model (PAR model), that have been developed by
accident Quick reference
A Dictionary of Disaster Management
An event with a negative, unwanted outcome. The meaning of the term has developed over the last centuries from the
acculturation Quick reference
A Dictionary of Gender Studies
The process whereby the norms, practices, and values of a given cultural context are adopted by those who are, or
acculturation Quick reference
A Dictionary of Gangs
acephalous Quick reference
A Dictionary of Sociology (4 ed.)
A term used to describe the political system of societies without centralized state authority—such as, for example, traditional African lineage
achievement Quick reference
A Dictionary of Sociology (4 ed.)
The successful accomplishment or performance of a socially defined task or goal. Talcott *Parsons (in Social Theory and Modern
achievement motivation Quick reference
A Dictionary of Sociology (4 ed.)
Defined as the need to perform well or the striving for success, and evidenced by persistence and effort in the
