Key terms & definitions

The ways society encourages conformity to its norms and rules, including expectations, sanctions and restrictions.

An accepted way of behaving in society.

An illegal act that some people regard as acceptable or relatively harmless. This public attitude does not make the act lawful.

An ideology that misapplied ideas about biological competition to human societies, claiming that some peoples were naturally superior to others.

The application of ideas about biological competition and selection to human society, often used to justify domination or the exclusion of people labelled weak.

A supporter of democratic government and socialist reforms; Germany’s main social democratic party was the SPD.

A German political party that represented workers and supported parliamentary democracy; its leader Friedrich Ebert headed the new government in November 1918.

The tendency to give answers that will be viewed favourably by others rather than answers that accurately reflect the respondent’s behaviour or views.

The tendency for respondents to give answers that make them appear acceptable or favourable rather than answering honestly.

A tendency to give answers that seem socially acceptable rather than answers that accurately reflect a person’s beliefs or behaviour.

An improvement in people’s quality of life, including health, education and access to essential services.

A continuous scale of social development, rather than a division into just two fixed groups.

An explanation proposing that schizophrenia comes before a downward movement in social class, with societal rejection and individual withdrawal contributing to declining social status and worsening mental health.

Targeting people who use or have access to computer systems to obtain confidential information or persuade them to carry out actions that compromise security.

A business whose primary purpose is to create social or environmental benefits through its activities.

A business organised to pursue a social purpose through its activities.

Being prevented from participating fully in the ordinary activities and opportunities of society.

An influence arising from people's needs, preferences or ways of living that affects a design decision.

An influence on behaviour arising from the social situation, including other people and cultural expectations.

The effects of a material, product or process on people, including workers, users and local communities.

An occupational classification used to categorise audiences into groups A, B, C1, C2, D and E.

A group of people with shared characteristics relevant to a product, such as age, lifestyle or access needs.

Damage to a person’s relationships, reputation or social position resulting from research or its consequences.

Wellbeing involving positive relationships, support from others and having essential needs such as food, shelter and clothing met.

The ranking of people in society according to their status, power and wealth.

A ranking of people according to status, wealth or power.

A ranking of people into different levels of status, reflected in their privileges, resources and treatment.

Housing let at rents below typical market levels by councils or housing associations to eligible households.

An aspect of identity connected to membership of social groups, such as friendship groups, a school, an occupation or a social class.

An effect on people’s relationships, living conditions or position within society.