Module 1 - Population Studies

1. Discuss the Malthusian theory of population with respect to Caribbean

demographic changes.

2. A large working class ensure a reserve army of labour. Discuss the

relvance of this assumption with reference to any named Caribbean

society.

3. Caribbean societies are currently in stage five of the demographic

transition according to Jamaican demographer George Roberts. Evaluate

the pros and cons of Roberts Caribbean demographic transition theory.

4. "The Caribbean is characterised by a dual sex labour market". Critically

examine this statement with reference to Caribbean territories.

5. The Caribbean region has been noted to be an area of high levels of

migration. With reference to One or SeveralCaribbean territories, discuss

this view.

6. Caribbean development has been hindered by cultural resistance. With

reference to any named Caribbean territory highlight the merits and de-

merits of this assertion.

7. Can fertility control measures contribute to enhanced socio-economic

development in Caribbean territories?

8. Caribbean political leaders such as Sir Grantley Adams (Barbados), Sir

Norman Manley (Jamaica)and Dr. Eric Williams(Trinidad) believed in the

principle of enhancing Human Capital. Assess the advantages and

disadvantages of the Human Captial theory in its application to Caribbean

societies.

9. Can the age-sex composition of a population influence its potential for

development?

10. Neo-Malthusian theory can be used as an effective policy for population

control in the Caribbean. Evaluate this assumption.

11. Critically assess the demographic perspectives of Karl Marx and

Thomas Malthus with respect to population growth.

12. With reference to at least ONE society, outline and assess ONE of the

following population theories:

a. Malthusianism

b. Marx's theory of population

c. The Demographic Transition theory

13. What is the demographic perspective?

Module 2 - Social Order, Social Control & Deviance

1. Deviance is functional for Caribbean societies. Discuss this assumption

with reference to any Named Caribbean territory.

2. Using Merton's Strain Theory, assess the view that increased pressure

for individuals to achieve in Caribbean societies contributes to the

increasing growth of crime and deviance, in these territories.

3. Caribbean working-class males are more likely to be arrested, tried and

imprisoned, as opposed to males from the higher status groups. Evaluate

this claim.

4. Criminal behaviour is NOT innate, it is learned! Critically evaluate this

statement.

5. With refence to Travis Hirschi's social control theory, discuss the factors

that contributes to deviant behavior. Make reference to Caribbean cases

whereever possible.

6. In the Caribbean there is a subculture of delinquency. With reference to

any named Caribbean territory, present arguemnts for and against this

assumption.

7. "The illegitimate opportunity structure is more readily available as an

option for achievement in comparison to the legitimate opportunity structure

in the Caribbean". Using any ONE named Caribbean state/territory, discuss

the validity of this statement.

8. To what extent do informal controls deter an individual from engaging in

deviant acts?

10. In the Caribbean, imprisonment as a form of punishment has failed to

change the individual. Thus other alternative measures should be

introduced to curtail the rising incidence of crime. Evaluate this statement

citing relevant sociological theories to support your arguments.

11. "Crime is functional for society"! Evaluate this claim.

12. "The lack of access to the 'legitimate opportunity structure' is the major

contributing factor to crime and deviance in modern capitalist societies".

Discuss.

13. Assess the notion that there is a strong correlation between gender and

crininality!

14. Does ethnicity predispose an individual towards criminality? Discuss.

Module 3 - Social Development & Poverty

1. Can Rostow's economic perspective be adequately applied to the
Caribbean in explaining how these societies developed?
2. Assess Immanuel Wallerstien's dependency theory and its applicability
the Caribbean.
3.To what extent can it be argued that Sir Arthur Lewis policy of
Industrialization by Invitation aided in the development of the British West
Indies?
4. "Urbanization contributes to the increasing productivity and economic
growth, which leads to improved quality of life for all members of society".
Using the appropriate sociological theories discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of urbanization.
5. Using ONE named Carribean territory, assess the extent to which
Caribbean Tourism has aided in the development of Caribbean states.
6. Is it true to state that Poverty in the Caribbean is the result of the failure
of governments to allocate resources equitably?
7. Assess the effectiveness of poverty alleviation strategies in
any ONE named Caribbean territory.
8. To what extent are women and the elderly more vulnerable to poverty in
the Caribbean than other social groups?
9. With reference to the unilinear theory of development discuss its

suitability to expalining the development of Caribbean territories.

10. Neo-Marxist dependency theories are best suited to explaining the

process of underdevelopment in Caribbean territories. Discuss.