This experimental study was designed to determine the differences in attitudes toward the manufacturing industry among pupils enrolled in (1) a conventional industrial arts program, (2) an innovative industrial arts program, and (3) a parochial school having no industrial arts program. A self-constructed attitude scale was administered to 128 eighth grade students; variables were controlled statistically using analysis of covariance. Conclusions were: (1) It is possible to construct a scale which will measure attitudes about manufacturing industry, (2) The fostering of positive attitudes is an attainable objective for industrial arts, (3) The conventional method of teaching is more successful in fostering positive attitudes toward manufacturing than the innovative program used in this study, (4) The conventional program is more successful in fostering more positive attitudes toward automation, occupational aspects of manufacturing industry, working conditions, and production aspects of manufacturing industry, and (5) The innovative industrial arts group may have had a more realistic representation of modern industry, therefore affording them the background to discern and become more objective toward the attitude scaled items. This Ph.D. thesis was submitted to The Ohio State University. (GR)