LABORATORY METHODS BUILD ATTITUDES.

The article explores the method of laboratory teaching. Science educators have advocated the use of the inductive technique in the laboratory since the 1930's, the open-ended experiments produced by the Manufacturing Chemists' Association (MCA) has been used in 1957. The author has presented a study to compare the relative effectiveness versus traditional high school chemistry experiments. The data used in the study consisted of 268 students in twelve intact classes in three high schools. One of the criteria used to compare the two laboratory techniques was the development of scientific attitudes. The result of the study shows that 63 percent of the total number of student's preferred MCA experiments and that MCA experiments provide more challenge, interests and stimulation.