The Methods and Materials of Demography

This chapter reviews the theories, methods and data utilized by demographers in their demographic pursuits. Although demographyDemography as an applied science does not emphasize theory, there are some key theories that have particular relevance for demographers. More importantly, this chapter reviews the various concepts that have been developed by demographers and the methods that are utilized in pursuit of solutions to concrete problems. An introduction to the data used by demographers is offered. This chapter emphasizes the fact that virtually no attribute is randomly distributed within society and highlights the influence of demographic factors on most aspects of society.