The purpose of this study was to examine the association of middle school student science
achievement and attitudes about science with student-reported frequency of teacher
lecture demonstrations and student-centered learning. The student sample was composed
of 602 seventh- and eighth-grade students enrolled in middle school science. Multiple
regression was used to investigate the association of attitudes toward science, studentcentered
learning, and teacher demonstrations with science achievement. Both attitudes
toward science and student-centered learning were positively associated with science
achievement, and student-centered learning was positively associated with attitude toward
science. Teacher demonstrations were found to have a negative association with student
achievement, and no significant association with attitudes toward science. Findings of this
study suggest that demonstrations provide insufficient opportunity for students to develop
an understanding of the processes of science. Furthermore, observing teacher
demonstrations may be valuable, but they are not a substitute for laboratory investigations
by students.