Which concept involves studying population distribution and trends?

The concept that involves studying population distribution and trends is demography. Demography focuses on the statistical study of populations, including the structure, distribution, and changes in population over time due to births, deaths, migration, and aging. This field examines various factors such as fertility rates, mortality rates, and patterns of movement within and between populations, allowing sociologists to understand how populations are organized and how they evolve.

In contrast, social stratification pertains to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals within society based on wealth, power, and social status, which does not specifically address population trends. Urbanization refers to the movement of people from rural to urban areas and the resulting growth of cities, concentrating on changes in living environments rather than the wider population statistics. Globalization is the process of increased interconnectedness among countries, which may influence demographic patterns but is a broader economic and cultural phenomenon rather than a specific study of population distribution.