2025
Sociological Research: Introduction to Population Analysis
Name: Sociological Research: Introduction to Population Analysis
Code: SOC10904D
8 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/224 hours
Scientific Area:
Sociologia e Ciências Sociais
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
The specific emphasis of the course is the intersection of the fields of sociology and demography.
The course is intended to: provide introductory training in demography, with particular attention to the causes and consequences of population change from a social and historical perspective; to improve practical knowledge of social change and public policy; to bring the data and modeling tools of demography, and quantitative sociology to provides interdisciplinary research on societal issues.
The specific learning goals for this course include: (1) apply demographic analysis to evaluate societal issues; (2) understand how to use empirical evidence to evaluate them; (3) know how to locate and use primary data sources (e.g., Household Surveys, European Social Survey, Eurobarometer, etc.); (4) interpret statistical results; (5) Formulate a well-organized written argument supported by evidence.
The course is intended to: provide introductory training in demography, with particular attention to the causes and consequences of population change from a social and historical perspective; to improve practical knowledge of social change and public policy; to bring the data and modeling tools of demography, and quantitative sociology to provides interdisciplinary research on societal issues.
The specific learning goals for this course include: (1) apply demographic analysis to evaluate societal issues; (2) understand how to use empirical evidence to evaluate them; (3) know how to locate and use primary data sources (e.g., Household Surveys, European Social Survey, Eurobarometer, etc.); (4) interpret statistical results; (5) Formulate a well-organized written argument supported by evidence.
Contents
1. Introduction to Population Analysis
2. Population Issues
3. Practical Computer Applications for Socio-Demographic Analysis
This course provides an introduction to basic demographic concepts, data, indictors and techniques. The course emphasizes hands-on applications of these techniques in the analysis of population dynamics in Portugal and European Countries. Students will learn about the main sources of demographic data, including censuses, surveys, and vital statistics, and methods to estimate demographic processes.
The topic is designed to introduce students to the core areas of social demography and recent developments in the field. Although the issues can vary according to student's needs and demand, it covers: social perspectives on health and mortality; social and demographic factors explaining levels, trends, and differentials in human fertility with an emphasis on family demography; migration and global societal changes.
2. Population Issues
3. Practical Computer Applications for Socio-Demographic Analysis
This course provides an introduction to basic demographic concepts, data, indictors and techniques. The course emphasizes hands-on applications of these techniques in the analysis of population dynamics in Portugal and European Countries. Students will learn about the main sources of demographic data, including censuses, surveys, and vital statistics, and methods to estimate demographic processes.
The topic is designed to introduce students to the core areas of social demography and recent developments in the field. Although the issues can vary according to student's needs and demand, it covers: social perspectives on health and mortality; social and demographic factors explaining levels, trends, and differentials in human fertility with an emphasis on family demography; migration and global societal changes.
Teaching Methods
The course is organized around cases in which population issues raise social, economical, policy or ethical problems. Through these cases, students will learn how to use models and data to acquire knowledge about population and society. Throughout the course, students will also learn to "read", interpret, evaluate, and produce tabular and graphical representations of population data.
The course format consists of lectures and discussions.
Students will learn to apply demographic methods through a series of weekly problem sets. In the are significant data driven exercises that students do, consisting of a reading, a broad question, and a data set with which to address it.
A research paper is required.
The course grade will be based on discussion, weekly exercises results and a final paper.
The course format consists of lectures and discussions.
Students will learn to apply demographic methods through a series of weekly problem sets. In the are significant data driven exercises that students do, consisting of a reading, a broad question, and a data set with which to address it.
A research paper is required.
The course grade will be based on discussion, weekly exercises results and a final paper.
Certificações
