Funeral Service Practice Exam

Which term defines the science of vital statistics, including births and deaths?

1. sociology

2. demography

3. statistics

4. anthropology

The correct answer is: demography

The term that specifically defines the science of vital statistics, which encompasses the data and analysis related to births, deaths, and other population dynamics, is demography. This field studies the characteristics of populations, including their size, distribution, and trends over time. Through the analysis of vital statistics, demography provides insights into the birth rates, death rates, and life expectancy of a population, which are crucial in understanding societal changes and planning for future needs. Sociology, while it involves the study of social behaviors and structures, does not focus explicitly on the statistical aspects of population data. Statistics is a broader field concerned with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of numerical data, but does not inherently focus on vital statistics specifically. Anthropology studies human cultures, societies, and their development, thus it does not encompass the vital statistics aspect in the same focused manner as demography does. Therefore, the best choice for defining the science of vital statistics is demography.