Question 1: Define the term 'demography' and explain its importance in studying families.

Answer: Demography is the statistical study of populations, including factors like birth rates, death rates, and migration. It is important in studying families because it helps to understand population changes and family trends over time.

Question 2: Identify and describe two factors that can cause family sizes to change within a population.

Answer: Factors include: (1) Changes in birth rates due to cultural shifts or access to contraception, which can lead to smaller or larger families. (2) Economic factors, where financial stability or hardship influences decisions on having children.

Question 3: Explain how an aging population might impact family structures in the UK.

Answer: An aging population means more elderly people and fewer young adults. This can lead to more multi-generational families, increased demand for elderly care, and potential challenges for the working-age population supporting retirees.

Question 4: Describe the trend in family size in the UK over the last 50 years and suggest two reasons for this trend.

Answer: Family sizes have generally decreased, with fewer children per family. Reasons include increased access to contraception, changing social attitudes towards family and career, and economic factors making larger families less feasible.

Question 5: Discuss how migration can influence family structures in the UK.

Answer: Migration introduces new cultural practices and family forms, such as extended families or multi-generational households. It can also lead to increased diversity in family types and sizes.

Question 6: Draw a simple diagram illustrating the concept of population pyramid and its relevance to understanding family structures.

Answer: A population pyramid is a bar chart showing the distribution of age groups in a population, with males on one side and females on the other. It helps visualize the proportion of different age groups, indicating trends like aging or youth bulges that impact family dynamics.

Question 7: Sketch a diagram showing the difference between a nuclear family and an extended family. Label the key features.

Answer: The sketch should depict a nuclear family with parents and children in a single household, and an extended family that includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins living together or nearby. Labels should identify the family members.

Question 8: Explain how changes in life expectancy affect the structure of families in the UK.

Answer: Longer life expectancy results in older populations, more multi-generational households, and increased need for elder care. It also influences the timing of family events like marriage and retirement.

Question 9: Identify one way that demographic changes might influence government policies related to families.

Answer: An aging population might lead to policies focusing on healthcare and pensions for the elderly, or support services for multi-generational households.

Question 10: Discuss why understanding demographic trends is important for sociologists studying families.

Answer: Understanding demographic trends helps sociologists analyze how societal changes influence family structures and relationships. It provides insights into future family needs, social policies, and cultural shifts.