Final answer:
Ceteris paribus means 'all other things being equal' and is used in social sciences to isolate the impact of a specific factor by assuming all other relevant variables are held constant.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ceteris paribus is a Latin phrase that means 'all other things being equal.' It is commonly used in various fields of study that employ the scientific method, including social sciences like political science and economics. The phrase is used to isolate the impact of a specific factor by assuming that all other relevant variables are held constant. For example, in politics, if two candidates are similar in age, experience, and fundraising ability but differ in ethnicity, ceteris paribus, the candidate's ethnicity should not affect the outcome of the election.