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Discusses the impact of conceptual & methodological decisions on the nature, assumptions, & conclusions of anthropological studies of youth & children's culture. Traditionally, studies of cultural meaning have focused on the particular characteristics of the adult male population & have thereby denied cultural agency to marginalized groups, eg, women & children. However, modern anthropology has attempted to overcome this bias, & it is argued that the productive study of children's cultures demands a more dynamic & relational perspective that defines culture as a product of diverse signifying practices rather than a strictly bounded entity. Within this framework, the potential of children to produce & transform their own social lives is not limited to the boundaries of mainstream male society. The often arbitrary distinctions between the categories of children's & youth culture are discussed. Drawing on fieldwork in Ontario & Nova Scotia, it is concluded that researchers must become more aware of how they define & thereby limit the agency of youth & children's cultures through their methodological & conceptual choices. 33 References. T. Sevier