McCune-Nicolich, L. & Fenson, L. (1984).
Methodological issues in studying early pretend play.
In Yawkey, T. D. & Pellegrini, A. D. (Eds.).
Child's play: Developmental and applied.
N. J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Paradigms for studying symbolic play:

• naturalistic in home or home-like lab with many toys
• lab situation created to elicit certain features of play -- usually 1 to 2 prototypical toys available and use is modeled and then children observed during "free play"