Maintains that efforts to initiate classroom discussions of controversial topics often provoke uncomfortable silence. Describes a classroom exercise that encourages students to analyze from a sociological perspective classroom dynamics that make discussion difficult. (CFR)

High-school chemistry students (n=96) were studied to compare the effects of two forms of instruction on science achievement and anxiety toward science: (1) cooperative controversy with science, technology, and society issues; and (2) individualized instruction. Analysis of variance indicated significant reduction in anxiety of students instructed…