Formal Demography (The Springer Series on Demographic Methods and Population Analysis) - Hardcover

Smith, David P.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0306438690 ISBN 13: 9780306438691

Publisher: Springer, 1992

Synopsis

This book is intended as a relatively nontechnica1 introduction to eurrent demographie methods. It has been several years in preparation, beginning from occasional class handouts I wrote to elaborate on essential points of demographie methodology. Its growth from scattered notes to an integrated text was a natural process, if a gradual one. The eontent of the book addresses three objectives. first, I have tried to avoid demographie methods that are now dated. In some ehapters, that has meant eoncentrating on formulas most demographers recognize. In the ehap­ ters on life tables, it meant testing competing formulas on a variety of real and synthetie data se.ts, and dropping or relegating to footnotes those that were least accurate. Second, I have attempted to give readers a sense of the limits of different formulas and methods. I am a terse writer, however, and for the reader that means most sentences carry weight. Chapters should be read attentively, with careful regard to commentary as weIl as to formulas and examples. Finally, I have tried to make the principal methodologies of the book accessible, by offering explanations for formulas that are not obvious, by keeping examples to the forefront, and by placing relatively specialized topics in ehapter appendices.

About this title

Synopsis:

A relatively nontechnical introductory text in current demographic methods. In general, the methods emphasized are relevant to both the social sciences and health professions. Readers are expected to be familiar with algebra and at least not intimidated by logarithms. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

About this edition

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0306438690
• ISBN 13: 9780306438691
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 343