Module 12: Emerging Issues in Sociology of Population
  Lecture 42: New Issues before the Sociologists
 

 

TABLE 12.2: APPROACHES TO POPULATION STUDIES: OLD AND NEW: EXPERTS DRIVEN TO PARTICIPATORY

 

Old Approach

New Approach

  1. Major assumptions

Population growth has adverse effect on development

The relationship between population and development is dynamic, situational and symmetric

  1. Social theory

Positivism

Social constructivism

  1. Approaches to reality

 

Analytical

Holistic

  1. Methodology

Survey, fieldwork

Situation analysis and mapping (by the community members rather than trained researchers)

  1. Level of analysis

 

National and regional

District and community (with special emphasis on SC/ST, OBC, and urban slums)

  1. Concepts

Scientific, objective

Subjective and relative

  1. Emphasis

National and regional plans

Community interventions

  1. Major actors

Government (with or without involvement of NGOs)

Research groups and NGOs/CBOs

  1. Goal of research

Objective knowledge

Enabling the community to analyse their problems and empowering people

  1. Resources

Hard facts

 

Conceptual maps, social representations and networks

  1. Goals of policy

Population stabilization through education and services

Participatory development involving community resources, public-private partnership