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"Ozzie and Harriet Don't Live Here Anymore" (San Luis Obispo Tribune, February 26,2002 ) is the title of an article that looked at the changing makeup of America's suburbs. The article states that nonfamily households (for example, homes headed by a single professional or an elderly widow) now outnumber married couples with children in suburbs of the nation's largest metropolitan areas. The article goes on to state: In the nation's 102 largest metropolitan areas, "nonfamilies" comprised 29 percent of households in 2000 , up from 27 percent in 1990 . While the number of married-with-children homes grew too, the share did not keep pace. It declined from 28 percent to 27 percent. Married couples without children at home live in another 29 percent of suburban households. The remaining 15 percent are single-parent homes. Use the given information on type of household in 2000 to construct a frequency distribution and a bar chart. (Be careful to extract the 2000 percentages from the given information).

Step by step solution

01

Extract the relevant information

From the exercise, we know that 29% of households are nonfamilies, 27% are married households with children, another 29% are married households without children and the remaining 15% are single-parent homes. This information is critical in the construction of both the frequency distribution and the bar chart.

02

Create the Frequency Distribution

The frequency distribution is a list that displays the count of the occurrences of each category. In our case, it's a list of the household types and their corresponding percentages. For this step, we lay out the information as follows: \n\n1. Nonfamily Households: 29% \n2. Married Couples With Children: 27% \n3. Married Couples Without Children: 29% \n4. Single-Parent Homes: 15% \n\nPlease confirm that the total percentage adds up to 100%.

03

Construct the Bar Chart

A bar chart is a graphical representation of data. The categories of data are represented by rectangular bars and the length of each bar is proportional to the quantity of the corresponding category. To construct the bar chart: \n\n1. Label the x-axis with the types of households and the y-axis with the percentage frequency. \n2. For each type of household, draw a single bar up to its corresponding percentage on the y-axis. \n3. Ensure the bars are separated to represent the different types of households.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Bar Chart

A bar chart is a simple yet powerful tool used to visually represent data. It's particularly useful when you want to compare different categories or groups. In our case, we are looking at different types of households, and how frequently they occur in metropolitan areas.

To create a bar chart, you need to follow these steps:

• First, identify the categories you want to compare. Here, the categories are the different types of households: nonfamily households, married couples with children, married couples without children, and single-parent homes.
• Next, choose a scale for the y-axis that will represent the frequency or percentage of each category. In this exercise, the percentages range from 15% to 29%, so a scale that covers these values is appropriate.
• Within the chart, each type of household gets its own bar. The length of each bar corresponds to the percentage frequency of that household type. For instance, nonfamily households have a 29% frequency, so their bar should be longer than that of single-parent homes, which stand at 15%.

By creating a bar chart, you can easily compare the different household categories and see at a glance how they stack up against each other.

Nonfamily Households

Nonfamily households are defined as households that do not fit the conventional family model. They are typically occupied by single professionals, elderly individuals, or even roommates. This category is gaining importance as lifestyles evolve.

• In 2000, nonfamily households accounted for 29% of households in the 102 largest metropolitan areas. This represents a growth from 27% in 1990.
• As society changes, these nonfamily configurations are becoming more common, reflecting a shift away from traditional family units.

Understanding nonfamily households is important, especially for sociological studies that look at how living arrangements influence urban and suburban dynamics. They highlight the increasing diversity in household structures as well as the need for different types of housing and services to accommodate this growing group.

Married Couples

Married couples form a substantial part of suburban households and can be divided into two major categories: those with children and those without. Each group has its own unique characteristics that impact community planning and services.

• Married couples with children made up 27% of households in 2000. This was a slight decline from the past, where this group once had a more significant presence in suburban neighborhoods.
• Married couples without children represented another 29% of households. These couples often include 'empty nesters' – couples whose children have moved out.

As demographics shift, understanding the trends of married couples is vital for providing appropriate amenities such as schools, family parks, and other family-oriented services. It also highlights the changing landscape of suburban life, where fewer families fit the traditional model of a family with children living at home.

Single-Parent Homes

Single-parent homes, which made up 15% of households in 2000, reflect a significant part of the suburban landscape. This category includes homes where a single parent is responsible for raising the children.

• The presence of single-parent households underscores the need for community resources that can support parents who may be juggling work and childcare on their own.
• This group is crucial in discussions about education, as single parents often require flexible school and daycare options to accommodate their schedules.

Single-parent homes highlight the diverse nature of modern households. Understanding this category allows for better designing of family support systems, ensuring that all families have access to necessary resources and opportunities.