This booklet presents papers and discussion group reports from a workshop convened by the Council of Europe to investigate research problems concerned with compensatory education for the socioculturally disadvantaged at the preschool and primary levels. Researchers from 11 countries participated in the workshop. The papers and reports, written in either French or English, include these topics: (1) the state of knowledge on social deprivation and possibilities of compensation; (2) critical examination of the notion of sociocultural disadvantagement; (3) the juxtaposition of social and individual approaches in compensatory education projects; (4) the British example of positive discrimination in education; (5) the concept and effectiveness of a mastery learning in the social context of compensatory education; (6) critical examination of current evaluation research approaches and designs; and (7) the creation of continuity between home and school environments as a form of compensatory education. The problems inherent in action (field) research were the focus of the four discussion groups whose short reports are also included. (ED)