Final answer:
Functionalist sociologists studying urbanization view cities as organic systems where various parts work collectively to maintain societal stability. They research population dynamics, the specialization of neighborhoods, and economic influences on urban growth. Urban sociology compares cities to living organisms to understand their development and functionality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sociologists study population and urbanization issues by examining various theoretical perspectives, such as functionalism and conflict theory. Functionalist sociologists suggest that all aspects of population, urbanization, and the environment work together cohesively, maintaining societal stability. They investigate the role of migration in social, economic, and environmental contexts, as well as how urban neighborhoods specialize to fulfill the community's cultural and financial needs. Urban sociology often compares a city to a living organism to illustrate how different parts of a society function together to meet collective needs, drawing on ideas from Herbert Spencer who likened society to a human body. Functionalist perspectives can also explore how economic dynamics, such as emigration and immigration, impact the social fabric of nations and urban areas.
A key aspect of urbanization studies is the relationship between population growth and the urban environment, and how this affects societal functions, stability, and development. Sociologists like Gideon Sjoberg have proposed prerequisites for city development, and understanding these factors is crucial to grasping the growth of cities and the challenges they face, such as economic forces and housing market fluctuations.