Final answer:
The question discusses the fertility rate in China and an investigation by students on whether the standard deviation of births per woman was greater than 0.75. Fertility, compared with mortality rates, provides insight into a population's growth. The data reflects how fertility and mortality rates vary by country and are influenced by different global factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the fertility rate, which is defined as the average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime. It discusses a specific scenario involving the fertility rate in China, which has seen a significant decline from 5.91 children per woman in 1966 to 1.6 children per woman. This decrease is attributed to the 1979 law restricting births to one per woman. In this case, a group of students were investigating whether the standard deviation of births per woman was greater than 0.75 based on a survey of 50 women.
Sociologists measure fertility using indicators such as the crude birthrate and fertility number, contrasting these with the fecundity number (the potential number of children). Understanding fertility rates, especially in relation to mortality rates, helps researchers comprehend the overall population growth.
The data provided on varying fertility and mortality rates by country highlights the differences in population composition and the factors influencing these rates, such as climate change, violence, and emigration, which is evident in regions such as Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.