In social research, which term refers to entities perpetuated by social agreement and behaviors?

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The term that accurately refers to entities perpetuated by social agreement and behaviors is "Social Constructs." Social constructs are concepts or perceptions that exist not because of any inherent qualities, but because people agree to their significance and accept them as a reality. This includes various aspects of our social world, such as race, gender roles, and the value of currency, which exist due to shared beliefs and collective acceptance rather than any natural or physical existence.

For example, the idea of marriage as a significant social institution relies on the collective agreement about its meaning and value, rather than having an objective basis outside of the social context.

Other terms in the choices capture related but distinct concepts. Social institutions refer to established systems and structures in society, like family, education, or religion, that fulfill certain functions. Social dynamics focus on the ways in which social processes and interactions change over time. Social norms are the rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members, but they do not encompass all constructs that can be agreed upon socially. Thus, social constructs rightly embodies the concept of entities formed through social agreement and behaviors.

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