Question

What is the difference in age period and cohort effects? Explain the effects and give an example of each.

What is the difference between manifest and latent functions? Explain the concepts and give an example of each.

Briefly discuss how social conflict paradigm might explain social class differences in health. Define any sociological concepts that you use in the discussion

Answer 1

In the study of demography, age period is variations which are linked to the biological and social processes of ageing specific to individuals while the cohort effects are variations which result from the situational exposer of a group of individuals moving across time. Age period effects are the physiological changes and the social activities contributed to the process of individuals' ageing while cohort effects are structural or societal factors which represent the sum of all different exposures experienced by the cohort or group from birth. Example: work condition of individuals, and the living conditions of individuals and their mortality rate.

The difference between manifest and latent functions is that manifest function is an intended action that is targeted to contribute to the working of a system while latent functions are the unintended consequences of people's activities that contribute to the adjustment of the system. We see manifest functions in mostly government policies to help a section of society to improve a condition. The government usually provides scholarships for the deserving to study thus encouraging students to study. This is an example of manifest functions. Both the functions goes hand in hand. The latent function of the scholarship will be the scholarship will enable more students to pursue further studies which mean there will also be increased in diversity.

The conflict paradigm basically sees the inherent asymmetries in society as created by individuals who control wealth distribution. Living in good health is greatly dependent on the quality of health insurances and the services we can buy. People who are at the lower rung of society who do not get good salary because of their lack of qualification and access are not in a position to afford good health services. While those who belong to the higher class of higher income are able to buy good health services. Inequality is the concept we can use here in the way health benefits work only for the rich. In order to remove inequality in health care, Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2012.