The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a story-based cooperative learning
method implemented in middle school science classes. Students' science achievement was
selected as a variable for the learning effect of the cognitive domain, while science self-efficacy
and attitude toward science were selected as variables for the affective domain. Participants
were 84 students from a Korean middle school. One science teacher conducted the science
lessons for 4 weeks using story-based cooperative learning and for another 4 weeks using
traditional lessons. Students were surveyed 3 times on the learning effects of the story-based
cooperative learning method(science self-efficacy/ attitude toward science/ science
achievement). The first survey was conducted at the beginning of the story-based cooperative
learning lessons, the second survey was given after the final story-based cooperative learning
lesson, and the final survey was conducted after completing the traditional lessons. Study data
were analyzed through a descriptive analysis, a repeated measures ANOVA and a Cohen’s d
effect size analysis. The results are as follows. First, there was a significant difference in science
achievement, while there were no significant differences in science self-efficacy and attitude
toward science between the two groups of high and low academic achievement. Second, there
were significant differences in science achievement and attitude toward science with respect to
the teaching methods(cooperative learning lesson using a story/ traditional lesson) while there
was no significant difference in science self-efficacy. Last, there was a significant interaction
effect between teaching methods and prior academic achievement on science achievement, but
not on science self-efficacy and attitude toward science. Findings suggest that, to conduct a
cooperative learning lesson using a story-based approach, the instructor should select the method, contents, and materials for the lesson with the students' academic achievements in
mind. achievements.