These two working papers are products of a regional study in industrial South Wales of the determinants of participation and non-participation in post-compulsory education and training, with special reference to processes of change in the patterns of these determinants over time and to variations between geographical areas. The study combines contextual analysis of secondary data about education and training providers with a regional study of several generations of families in South Wales via survey, semi-structured interviews, and taped oral histories. Paper 1, The Region of Study, describes the region and provides secondary data used both in the creation of the sample and as a background for the analysis of research findings. It discusses how these three sites that typified the focus area were selected: Blaenau Gwent in the heart of the depressed coalfield; Neath Port Talbot, a large urban center historically linked with heavy industry; and Brigend, a rapidly expanding town south of the coalfield which also shows recent impact of Japanese investment in the area. Paper 1 contains 48 references; background data of the sites; and maps. Paper 2, Outline Methodology of the Study, describes the survey, data collection, pilot study, coding, and these forms of analysis that were carried out: factor analysis, causation, temporal sequences, standard regression, logistic regression, and loglinear models. Paper 2 contains include 63 references. (YLB)