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fact
fact There is no generalized opposition between the everyday and sociological uses of the term fact. Both suggest that any statement which is true can be described as a fact. For example, it is a fact that British law prohibits murder, that Russia possesses nuclear weapons, and that wealth in America is distributed unequally. However, there is a considerable social science literature on the relationship between facts and theories, or interpretations based on facts. It is for this reason that social science generalizations are often contested. Most sociologists would also accept that many of the most interesting social facts are theory impregnated; that is, they imply certain assumptions about what is significant in society, and how best to conceptualize this. Facts are also considered to be provisional–considered true until shown otherwise. The boundary between fact and assertion is also hard to draw–although many would argue that falsifiability provides a useful criterion for the social sciences.
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GORDON MARSHALL. "fact." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. GORDON MARSHALL. "fact." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-fact.html GORDON MARSHALL. "fact." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-fact.html |
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fact
fact / fakt/ • n. a thing that is indisputably the case. ∎ a piece of information used as evidence or as part of a report or news article. ∎ chiefly Law the truth about events as opposed to interpretation: a question of fact as to whether they had received the letter. PHRASES: before (or after) the fact before (or after) the committing of a crime: an accessory before the fact. a fact of life something that must be accepted as true and unchanging, even if it is unpleasant. facts and figures precise details. the facts of life information about sexual functions and practices, esp. as given to children. the fact of the matter the truth. in (point of) fact used to emphasize the truth of an assertion: Aunt Madeline isn't in fact my aunt but a family friend. |
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"fact." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fact." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-fact.html "fact." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-fact.html |
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Fact
FACTIncident, act, event, or circumstance. A fact is something that has already been done or an action in process. It is an event that has definitely and actually taken place, and is distinguishable from a suspicion, innuendo, or supposition. A fact is a truth as opposed to fiction or mistake. A question of fact in litigation is concerned with what actually took place. During a trial, questions of fact are generally left for the jury to determine after each opposing side has presented its case. By contrast, a question of law is ordinarily decided by a judge, who must deal with applicable legal rules and principles that affect what transpired. |
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"Fact." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Fact." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437701727.html "Fact." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437701727.html |
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fact
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T. F. HOAD. "fact." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "fact." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-fact.html T. F. HOAD. "fact." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-fact.html |
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fact
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "fact." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "fact." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-fact.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "fact." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-fact.html |
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fact
fact
•abreact, abstract, act, attract, bract, compact, contract, counteract, diffract, enact, exact, extract, fact, humpbacked, hunchbacked, impact, interact, matter-of-fact, pact, protract, redact, refract, retroact, subcontract, subtract, tact, tract, transact, unbacked, underact, untracked
•play-act • autodidact
•artefact (US artifact) • cataract
•contact
•marked, unremarked
•Wehrmacht
•affect, bisect, bull-necked, collect, confect, connect, correct, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, effect, eject, elect, erect, expect, infect, inflect, inject, inspect, interconnect, interject, intersect, misdirect, neglect, object, perfect, project, prospect, protect, reflect, reject, respect, resurrect, sect, select, subject, suspect, transect, unchecked, Utrecht
•prefect • abject • retroject • intellect
•genuflect • idiolect • dialect • aspect
•circumspect • retrospect • Dordrecht
•vivisect • architect • unbaked
•sun-baked
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Cite this article
"fact." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fact." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-fact.html "fact." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-fact.html |
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