This investigation explored the conversational practices and conversational rule-conformity of children aged four, six, and eight. Procedures included observation of the conversational behavior of children in classroom interaction among peers and a controlled laboratory investigation of the conversations of 18 children, of varying age levels, who were divided into groups of three and assigned discussion topics. Findings suggested that a grasp of the constitutive rule of conversation (participants alternately speaking and listening in focused interaction) was strongly contingent upon age and development, and that the practices of the children with regard to speaking relevantly about a topic were also related to age level. A comparison of the two research methodologies (naturalistic method and controlled laboratory method) indicated the advantages and disadvantages of each. (Author/GW)