Demographics

{{sources needed}}{{sciencenav}}
'''Demographics''', a branch of [[sociology]], is the science of population [[statistics]] &mdash; a study of the styles, preferences, habits, and qualities of a particular population. Like any statistically based science, it might be subject to some degree of [[bullshit]]. Demographics are frequently used in the formulation of public policy and especially in advertising. 

==Common demographic classes==
Some of the common classes used in demographics for the categorisation of the population include, but are not limited to the following:
*[[Gender]]
*Employment
*Age
*Wealth
*[[Race]]
*Consumer habits
*Birth rates

==Specific areas of bullshittery==
Bullshitting by getting demographics wrong is easy enough. Two main problems:

* Confusing a statistical trend with a ''rule''. E.g., statistically, more men than women like football, therefore ''all'' men like football. We call this fallacy [[stereotyping]] &mdash; which is even worse when the "rule" isn't even backed up by the statistical evidence.

* Mistaking one statistical trend as applying outside the demographic. This is why medical trials always specify the status of the type of people they're looking at. You can't take a study that looked at 65 year-old men and assume you'll see the same medical benefits in healthy women in their 20s. This is often referred to as the [[spotlight fallacy]].

Between these two points, pretty much every misuse of demographic data can be found.

==Generations==
A generation is the demographic concept of classifying individuals on the basis of the era in which they were born and/or the significant events that they have experienced. The definition of these are vague and vary or overlap to a certain degree but some examples include:
*'''Lost Generation''', born 1883–1900
*'''Greatest Generation''', born 1901–1927
*'''Silent Generation''', born 1928–1945
*'''Baby boomers''', born 1946–1964
*'''Generation X''', born 1965–1980
*'''Millennials''' ('''Generation Y'''), born 1981–1996
*'''Generation Z''' ('''Zoomers'''), born 1997–2012
*'''Generation Alpha''', born 2013–present

==Census==
[[File:The Census at Bethlehem by Pieter Brueghel (II) Bonnefantenmuseum 677.jpg|thumb|right|165px|"The Census at Bethlehem" by Pieter Brueghel the Younger]]
A census is a regular attempt to count the number of people in an area or state, possibly so that resources (including politicians) can be distributed fairly. A census is also how quite a lot of data for demographic research is acquired.

Censuses are often slightly skewed &mdash; not everybody gets counted for various reasons, and there are usually quirks<ref>http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/8897540.No_common_census_as_Moors_Valley_ticket_machine_gets_form/</ref> and 'some people' think it is a blasted liberty.

There is no indication that the census requiring [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]], [[Joseph (husband of Mary)|Joseph]], and yet-to-be-born [[Jesus]] actually occurred.

==Demographic subjects==
* [[Overpopulation]]
* [[Demographic crisis]]
* [[Holocaust denial]]
* [[One-child policy]]
* [[Reproductive rights]]

==See also==
*[[Selection bias]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Sociology]]
[[Category:statistics]]

Categories: Science, Sociology, statistics