#1.  A pattern of beliefs and concepts (both factual and normative) which purport to explain complex social social phenomena
-and with a view to directing and simplifying socio-political choices facing individuals and groups.

#2. A comprehensive pattern of cognitive and moral beliefs about humanity, society and the universe as it relates to humanity and society.
-it is explicit, systematized, comprehensive and suggests particular and immediate forms of action to bring about change.

#3. An all inclusive system of comprehensive reality which:
-contains a set of beliefs or ideals which seek to transform the whole of a way of life (using theories to prescribe or suggest courses of action)
-it involves a commitment to the consequence of these ideas being put into practice.
 

Confusions over the use of the term "ideology"

ìIdeologyî is sometimes used to describe a system of thought which gives distorted and misleading ideas based on illusions.  When used in this way, it is contrasted with the notion of "the real facts" or the "real view" as somehow grounded in a practical, professional, or scientific (and therefore neutral) reality.