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Axia College Material

Appendix R

DemographyLab

Before beginning DemographyLab:

1. Print out these lab experiment instructions. A printed copy of these instructions will aid in completing the lab accurately and effectively, because you will not need to switch back and forth between computer screens.

2. Disable your pop-up blocker. DemographyLab and the DemographyLab online notebook will open in new browser windows. If you have a pop-up blocker, they will be blocked.

3. Read the online introduction and background information related to this lab

The experiment is divided into two sections: Self-Check Experiment and Exploration Experiment.

The Self-Check Experiment is designed to help you become familiar with the lab. The answers to the Self-Check Experiment questions are given to you (in red text). Completing the Self-Check Experiment and checking your answers will help you verify that you are completing the experiments correctly.

The Exploration Experiment is the experiment you will be conducting and turning in to your instructor for credit. You will report your findings for the Exploration Experiment in the DemographyLab report.

Getting to Know DemographyLab

Countries differ with respect to population numbers, age structure, fertility rates, and mortality rates. These differences are caused by many factors, such as geographic size and location, level of economic development, government policies, and religious practices.

The following experiments are designed to help you understand the influence of some of these factors on the size and growth of human populations.

Self-Check Experiment: Demographic Differences among Nations

1. Select the Population Structure view on the input screen of DemographyLab.

2. Using the Country drop-down menu, examine the estimated 1998 population structure of each nation.

3. Answer the following questions:

• Can you classify the population structures into two general patterns? Consider what you know about each of these countries.

• What do you think is the biggest factor distinguishing these two groups of nations?

Many countries such as India, Mexico, and Nigeria show a pyramid-shaped distribution for population structure where the vast majority of the population includes large numbers of young children (males and females), young adults, and middle-aged adults with relatively smaller percentages of the population represented by older adults.

Other countries such as the USA, Sweden, and Japan show more even distributions for population structure which often demonstrate smaller percentages of individuals at each extreme of the population structure (young children and older adults).

Factors such as religious practices, family structure, and contraceptive and family-size control practices, among other factors, contribute to differences between countries that show these two different population structures.

4. Select the Fertility Rate view on the input screen of DemographyLab.

5. Using the Country drop-down menu, examine the estimated 1998 fertility rates of each nation.

• Try changing the scale to magnify these differences.

6. Answer the following questions:

• Do you see any trends for the fertility rates compared to the population structures? What are they?

In countries that show the pyramid-shaped population structure discussed above, fertility rate is increased across a wider age range of women compared to countries that show more even distributions for population structure.

7. Select the Mortality Rate view on the input screen of DemographyLab.

8. Using the Country drop-down menu, examine the estimated 1998 mortality rates of each nation.

9. Answer the following questions:

• Do you see any general similarities and differences between nations? Provide possible reasons for these similarities and differences.

o Hint: To help you determine differences in mortality rates, click on the Run button and choose the Vital Rates view.

As expected, most countries show the highest mortality rate among older individuals in the population structure. One obvious difference among some countries is the mortality rate among children less than 5 years of age.

Possible reasons for these differences may include diet and food availability, medical care (for example, maternal, pre- and post-natal care), economic factors (high infant mortality rates among the poor), stress, and genetic factors.

• Do you see any trends for the mortality rates compared to the age structures? What are they?

• Which age groups show the biggest differences in mortality rate among nations?

Refer to answer above. Children less than 5 years of age, and for some countries, adults aged 60-74 show large differences in mortality rate among nations. Those nations with pyramidal age structures tend to have higher mortality rates, especially in the 0-5 and elderly age groups.

• Do you see any differences in the mortality rates of males compared with females for any of the countries? What are they?

• What might account for some of these differences?

In general, males show higher mortality rates across most age ranges compared to females. The higher mortality rates of males is especially apparent among the older age groups. These differences can be due to work, pleasure related risk activities, stress, diet, and genetics, among other factors.

Most scientists believe slower population growth is beneficial to the sustainability and quality of human life on Earth. In the mid-1980s, the World Health Organization (WHO) Task Force on Contraceptive Vaccines specifically designated a large sum of research funds for scientists to design novel contraceptive methods that could be used to slow population growth. The WHO identified certain developing nations of Africa, South America, and Asia, including India, as populations that could benefit from new contraceptive approaches (such as contraceptive vaccinations) that could easily be administered on a large scale.

10. Select the Fertility Rate view on the input screen of Demography Lab.

11. Examine the fertility rates for Nigeria and India.

12. Answer the following questions:

• Develop a list of differences and similarities that appear for the fertility rates of each country.

• Why might each country show these differences and similarities?

In general, both countries show a bell-shaped distribution for fertility rates over the 15 to 49 year age brackets. Nigeria shows a higher fertility rate than India across all age brackets, and relatively even fertility rates in the 20-24 and 25-29 year age brackets compared to India.

Possible reasons for these similarities include: (1) both Nigeria and India have relatively similar population structures, (2) both countries have not implemented large-scale efforts to increase the use of contraceptives as part of family planning, and (3) religious practices in both countries often favor large families.

Possible reasons for differences include: (1) the use of contraceptive techniques is less prevalent in Nigeria than India, (2) family planning efforts have been given more emphasis (primarily by the government), but with limited impact, in India compared to Nigeria.

• Can you think of common societal issues shared by India and Nigeria that might account for the similarities?

There are some common issues related to high poverty levels, poor family planning practices, and the percentages of couples using contraception are similar.

• Provide possible explanations for why it may be difficult to establish contraceptive techniques in these countries that would have a significant impact on population growth.

The dissemination of contraceptive information can be difficult, particularly in areas of the country where large percentages of the population may be destitute and may not be schooled in a formal manner. Availability to health care facilities where contraceptives may be provided is typically poor, and in many cases, health care is not widely available for many individuals or sought by many people. Dissemination of information concerning family planning is also often hindered by the number of different dialects that exist, particularly in countries such as India. Because many generations of individuals are raised in large families, ingrained family structure and cultural practices favor large families.

Exploration Experiment: Historical Effects on Demographic Changes

For a variety of reasons, populations sometimes undergo periods when there are large changes in reproduction or mortality. For example, desert plant populations may produce a large cohort of seedlings following heavy rains, or a fish population may experience a peak in reproduction due to a La Niña weather year.

Human populations exhibit similar demographic changes. For example, the history of human civilization includes many well-documented events, such as plague (Black Death of medieval Europe) and famine (Irish Famine of 1845—1847), that produced pronounced demographic changes in human populations. The following experiments illustrate some examples.

Activity 1: Baby Boom Generation

In the United States, a peak in reproduction occurred after World War II from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. This produced the "baby boom" generation.

1. Select the Population Structure view on the input screen of DemographyLab.

2. Using the Country drop-down menu, examine the estimated 1998 population structure of the USA.

3. Answer the following question in Appendix S: DemographyLab Report:

• Can you find the baby boomers? Explain.

4. Click the Run button and choose the Population Structure view. You may wish to use the Scale button to make the differences in age structure more obvious.

5. Use the arrow buttons at the top of the view to advance the population structure forward in time.

6. Follow the baby boom generation as they age. Compare the population in 1998 with the projected population for 2028.

7. Export your data by clicking the Export Data button.

8. Copy and paste your data into Appendix S: DemographyLab Report.

9. Answer the following questions in Appendix S: DemographyLab Report:

• What do you think the social consequences will be for these changes? Provide at least three examples of social consequences that will result from these changes.

Activity 2: China’s Reproductive Policy

In 1980, China’s government adopted a policy advocating one child per couple.

1. Select the Population Structure view on the input screen of DemographyLab.

2. Using the Country drop-down menu, examine the estimated 1998 population structure of China.

3. Answer the following question in Appendix S: DemographyLab Report:

• Can you see evidence of China’s population policy? Explain.

4. Click the Run button and choose the Population Structure view. You may wish to use the Scale button to make the differences in age structure more obvious.

5. Use the arrow buttons at the top of the view to advance the population structure forward in time by 5-year increments.

6. Export your data by clicking the Export Data button.

7. Copy and paste your data into Appendix S: DemographyLab Report.

8. Answer the following question in Appendix S: DemographyLab Report:

• What changes will occur in China’s population structure because of its policy?

Activity 3: Japanese Baby Bust

At the same time the baby boom was occurring in the United States, there was a "baby bust" in post-World War II Japan, when fertility rates decreased.

1. Select the Population Structure view on the input screen of DemographyLab.

2. Using the Country drop-down menu, examine the estimated 1998 population structure of Japan.

3. Answer the following questions in Appendix S: DemographyLab Report:

• Can you see evidence of the postwar baby bust?

• What has happened to fertility rates in Japan in recent years?

4. Click the Run button and choose the Population Structure view. You may wish to use the Scale button to make the differences in age structure more obvious.

5. Use the arrow buttons at the top of the view to project the population structure forward in time.

6. Answer the following question in Appendix S: DemographyLab Report:

• If you were a demographer, what advice or concerns would you have for Japan’s government in planning for the future?

References

DemographyLab assignments and answers were adapted with permission from Pearson Education, Inc.

Biology Labs On-Line is a collaboration between the California State University system and Benjamin Cummings.

© 2002 California State University and Benjamin Cummings, an imprint of Pearson Education, Inc. Development was partially supported by a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

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