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Definition: group of people living in a particular place at a specified time

Why Do Sociologist Study Population?• we look for patterns to help understand

human social behavior• we also look for patterns to help us

predict how people will behave

Definition: the study of human population

What about population do Sociologists study?• composition of population (size, location, diversity)• population trends (migration, fertility, mortality)

1. Low Mortality Rate (as measured by the Crude Death Rate)• Lower the nations mortality rate, the faster its population grows• Infant mortality is the highest in poor nations, where people lack of adequate

nutrition and safe water and have little access to high-quality medical care

2. High Fertility Rate (as measured by the Crude Birth Rate)• birth rates are the highest in low-income nations, where access to birth control

is limited and women have few choices about how many children to bear

Natural Population Increase: rate of natural increase Do the Math: Crude Birth Rate minus Crude Death Rate

Example: U.S. = 13.8 - 8.1 = 5.7 (0.57)

Doubling Time: time (years) required for a population to double its size Do the Math: divide the number 70 by the growth rate

Example: Central America = 70/1.9 = 2.8%

Exponential Growth: amount of population increase is greater although rate remains the same

Example: 1,2,3,4,5 versus 2,4,8,16, 32

Zero Population Growth: time where deaths and births are balanced creating no increase in population

Fact: 60 high income nations reached zero population growth (Population Reference Bureau,

2006)

Malthusian Theory:• Population, if left alone,

will exceed food supply• Checks on population can

be positive or preventative

Famine Family Planning Disease Birth Control War 1 Child Rule

Demographic Transition Theory:• Economic growth/ development

can help predict growth• Considers agricultural

productivity and methods of birth control

Definition: movement of people to the citiesImportance: most significant impact and forces social changeResults: poverty and cultural change

Causes of Urbaniztion:• Search for employment• Access to services• Better Healthcare• Educational Opportunities• Modern Conveniences• Access to Art, Culture, Entertainment

Suburbanization: population shift to areas surrounding the cities

Gentrification: development of low-income areas by people of middle class, upper class, or developers

Definition: study of the relationship between humans and their city environments

Why Do Sociologists Study Urban Ecology? As cities grow, patterns of migration emergesAs cities expand, culture changesAs cities expand, inequality is more evident

Concentric Zone TheoryCities grow from the center

outward

Sector TheoryTransportation routes affect

urban growth

Mutiple Nuclei TheoryCity has several centers

devoted to separate zones

Peripheral TheoryGrowth of suburbs around

central city