Demographic Groups and Population Trends

 

Social Trends:

What are Social Trends?

Social Trends: large-scale changes in our society – observable patterns (trends) that can be analyzed over time and/or across space Demography is an area of study that

we can analyze to look at patterns and trends to predict behaviour and cause/consequence – locally, nationally, globally

What is Demography?

• The scientific study of the characteristics and dynamics (change) of human populations including their size, growth, movement, density, and composition. • Another way to define demography is to say

that it is the study of statistics about people, how these statistics have changed and are changing, and the effects of these changes on social, economic, and environmental conditions.

Topics of Study - Demographic Trends

Some of the statistics that demography covers are: Birth Rates Death Rates Age Migration (including immigration and

emigration) Education Ethnicity Religion Economic Status Marital Status

How is Demography Used? Most frequently, demography is used

in the following areas: Marketing and consumer trends Social Planning Human Resources Assessing Global Trends – rates of

population growth and decline Public policy decisions

How Demography is Used - Examples• Historians, economists, geographers, and even

epidemiologists use demographics to help them to explain changes and trends.

• Politicians, social planners, and health officials use demographics to help them predict future trends and plan for future needs.

• Demographics are used in making many major decisions. • Lawmakers use demographics to help them decide how many

immigrants will be allowed to enter Canada; • school boards will use demographics when they are deciding

whether to build a new school or hire new staff; • car companies use demographics in deciding whether to build

more SUVs or more Smart Cars.

Demography and the Social Sciences

Demography is a tool frequently used by social scientists to explain and predict specific changes and challenges in society.

Examples of Demography in Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology…

Psychology

PSYCHOLOGISTS might study demographics in order

to understand the people they are treating and to help them focus psychological research, education, and treatment. For example, if Canada’s population is

growing older should psychologists be researching the correlation between ageing and depression?

Anthropology

ANTHROPOLOGISTS might use demography to help

explain and understand why a culture behaves the way it does. For example, can anthropologists make

any connections in North American cultures between declining birth rates and education?

Sociology

SOCIOLOGISTS might use demography to help

explain certain stresses on a society, to explain why a society has changed or to assist in social planning. For example, with the large ageing

population, will there be enough of a labour base to support the strain on the health care system?

EXAMPLE

Take the demographics of the family… The family is the basic unit of social

activity. Therefore, the sociologist and the anthropologist are interested in the status, roles, and decision-making of family members.

In some societies, having many children gives prestige to the mother and to the family. Why people want children is a question that may concern a psychologist.

Social Scientists study demographics with three major questions in mind:1. What are the agents (causes) of change?2. What are the impediments to change?3. What are the effects of change?

Social Scientists study demographics using a variety of research methods (which we will explore later in this course). These can include interviews, statistics, surveys, observations, and reviews of existing literature.

Some Examples of Social, Demographic Trends…

Global Population TrendsPopulation Trends in Developed vs. Developing

CountriesCanadian Population Trends

Global Population Trends…

Look at the figures provided.

What trends can you assess from the information from the graph/chart?

Skill Development – Reading Graphs

Developed vs. Developing Countries

Look at the figures provided.

What trends can you assess from the information on the chart/graph?

Skill Development – Reading Graphs

Demographic Trends in Canada

Skill Development – Reading Graphs

Look at the figures provided.

What trends can you assess from the information on the chart/graph?