QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE STUDIES OF POPULATION

Conventionally, population scientists make a difference between demography and population studies. Demography deals with the quantitative study of size and processes of population: Population studies deal with complex and qualitative relationships between socio-economic environment and population. In practice there is no separation between the two. In this course we will use them interchangeably. Demographers make their models in the light of substantive theories developed by sociologists and economists; and sociologists and economists employ demographic measures, data and models to explain the various links between population and society.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SIZE, GROWTH, COMPOSITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION

Size, growth, composition and distribution of population are interrelated. In a territory of a given size population cannot increase indefinitely. Therefore, as we will see later, the size of population determines at what rate the population would be growing. The composition of population also affects the rate of growth of population. In turn, the rate of growth affects the composition of population. Most of the rapidly growing populations are younger than the declining populations or populations growing at a very slow pace. The rate of growth also affects the distribution directly and indirectly. One reason behind this is that all the regions and groups in a country do not grow at the same rate while some regions and groups may grow at a fast pace others may grow only at a slow pace or even decline, leading to spatial and social class differences in the growth rate of population. In most countries, therefore, the governments are not only concerned about overall growth rate of population, but they also take cognizance of and intervene in population growth differentials. No wonder, in many countries, the social classes are themselves raising concerns about social class differences in fertility, mortality and migration..