Key terms & definitions

A complete, unbroken conducting path through which electrical charge can flow.

An unbroken conducting path around which electrical charge can flow.

A fixed quantity of gas from which no particles enter or escape.

A party list whose candidate order is decided by the party; voters cannot choose between candidates on that party's list.

A population in which births, deaths and movements into or out of the population have negligible effects during the study period.

A body position with arms folded across the body or legs crossed; it may communicate defensiveness or discomfort.

A question that asks respondents to select from a set of possible answers.

A question answered by choosing from supplied response options.

A question that asks a respondent to choose from a fixed set of response options.

A question offering a predetermined set of possible answers.

A question that limits the response to a set of options, such as ‘yes’ or ‘no’, or a rating scale.

An employment arrangement requiring workers to belong to a particular trade union.

A skill not affected by the environment or other performers, which tends to be performed the same way each time.

A society in which social positions are largely ascribed and movement between levels is severely restricted.

A system in which substances cannot enter or leave, so reactants and products cannot escape.

A system across whose boundary no energy is transferred to or from the surroundings.

A system with no resultant external force acting on it, so its total momentum remains constant.

A grain structure with small pores and a fine, smoother appearance.

A prescribed media product studied closely as evidence for applying the theoretical framework and understanding media contexts.

A shot that frames a face or object closely, directing attention to expressions or significant details.

The cash balance at the end of a period, calculated as opening balance plus net cash flow.

The resolution of a narrative’s central conflicts, often showing what happens to its characters afterwards.

The tendency to perceive incomplete shapes as complete by filling in missing information.

A satisfying resolution of a narrative or answer to an enigma.

The process in which liquid blood forms a thicker, solid mass.

A Senate procedure for ending debate and allowing a bill to move towards a vote.

Remote provision of services, such as storage, software and processing, using servers accessed over the Internet.

Keeping files online so that authorised users can access and share them from different devices and locations.

Keeping data on remote servers accessed through a network, rather than only on a local device.

Storage on remote servers accessed through the internet, allowing users in different locations to access shared files.