ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of the book. The book offers a unifying perspective on interactions that draws on developmental, but also educational and social psychology, in order to inform both adult-child interactions and relationships. An important theme of the book is a focus on interactions and relationships between and among people. It reflects the way school policy has become driven by econometric concerns with academic performance rather than close attention to the details of pedagogy and teacher-pupil talk. One aim of this book, is to champion the value of observational studies of children and their interactions in schools. It explores the differences between children in two main ways. First, the differences between children in their social relations in terms of friendless vs. befriended, and high vs. low expectation. Secondly, one will be interested throughout in group differences, mainly male vs. female, example in relation to interactions with teachers.
