The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of clothing conformity on the social interaction of two groups of preschool children of two socio-economic classes. Subjects were six randomly selected children from a group of fifteen nursery school children, representing the middle economic class and six children from a group of thirteen Head Start children designated as lower economic class.

The subjects were observed for 45 minutes while engaged in free play periods. Three separate observation series were conducted while the subjects were wearing their own play clothes, experimental garments, and when again dressed in their own play clothing.

Statistical analysis of the number of verbalizations initiated by subjects to themselves and to others indicated that clothing conformity did not appear to affect preschool children's social interactions. There were no lasting interactional trends, and experimental clothing did not affect the social interaction of children of middle and lower economic backgrounds.

Anecdotal records revealed that the lower-class children had considerable interest in and awareness of clothing. This was in contrast to an extreme lack of interest exhibited by the middle-class children.