Ceteris paribus

Definition

Ceteris paribus is a Latin term meaning "all other things being equal," used in political science to isolate the effect of one variable on another by holding all other relevant factors constant. It simplifies analysis by focusing on the direct relationship between two variables without the interference of external changes.

Related terms

Variable: A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types and is often studied to understand its effects within political science research.

Control group: In experimental design, a control group is a group kept under normal or baseline conditions, against which changes in the experimental group are compared to assess the effect of the variable in question.

Empirical evidence: Empirical evidence consists of information acquired by observation or experimentation that political scientists use to confirm or refute theoretical hypotheses