A "cohort" refers to a group of individuals who share a common characteristic or experience within a defined time period. This term is often used in research and statistics to analyze trends, behaviors, or outcomes among specific populations, such as students graduating in the same year or patients receiving the same treatment. In social sciences, cohorts can help researchers understand how different factors, like age or socioeconomic status, influence people's lives. For example, a birth cohort might study individuals born in the same decade to examine how historical events shaped their experiences and perspectives over time.