In the CCLAS study, the "data" we are interested in is child language -- more specifically, Cree child language. So by "data collection" we mean obtaining samples of child speech, and this we did by means of video-recording. Better than just using audio tapes, we can review the video-tapes and see what the children were playing with, or what they were doing, and this helps us better understand what they were talking about.

Thanks to the generosity of the people of Chisasibi, our study includes two cohorts of children. Cohort A were approximately 20 months old at the start of filming, and Cohort B who were a few months shy of their fourth birthday (around 44 months old). In this way, with just 30 months of filming we were able to chart all the major language learning years (from approximately 1.5 to 6.5 years of age). All interactions took place in Cree, although in certain situations the children preferred to use English as opposed to Cree words. The children were filmed while they were engaged in activities which elicit language – playing with toys, talking about recent activities, and so on. This is what we mean by "naturalistic".

In the CCLAS study, the "data" we are interested in is child language -- more specifically, Cree child language. So by "data collection" we mean obtaining samples of child speech, and this we did by means of video-recording. Better than just using audio tapes, we can review the video-tapes and see what the children were playing with, or what they were doing, and this helps us better understand what they were talking about.

Thanks to the generosity of the people of Chisasibi, our study includes two cohorts of children. Cohort A were approximately 20 months old at the start of filming, and Cohort B who were a few months shy of their fourth birthday (around 44 months old). In this way, with just 30 months of filming we were able to chart all the major language learning years (from approximately 1.5 to 6.5 years of age). All interactions took place in Cree, although in certain situations the children preferred to use English as opposed to Cree words. The children were filmed while they were engaged in activities which elicit language – playing with toys, talking about recent activities, and so on. This is what we mean by "naturalistic".