ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses two of the major studies funded within the nursery research programme in the 1970s, both frequently cited on reference lists. One research within programme was the major study funded by social science research school (SSRC) and directed by Jerome Bruner under the title Oxford Preschool Research Project, which ran from 1975 to 1978. The other research was directed by Corinne and John Hutt at Keele University, funded by the department of education and science (DES), and ran from 1975–9. The aim of this aspect of the research was to assess the extent to which the various contexts in preschool units stimulated complex activity, concentration and conversation between children and between children and staff. Within one of the studies in Oxford project, there was evidence on language interaction between staff and children, based on recordings made and selected by staff in preschool units.