Research proposal: Engaging more girls in learning physics

Physics is generally less popular with girls than other sciences such as Biology and Chemistry. The subject appears to be perceived as difficult and not interesting to most girls. This situation is echoed by the low enrolment of girls taking Physics at the upper secondary level and further lessen the number of girls to continue their studies in the engineering/ technical fields. Eventually the Physics-related workforce consistently dominated by man. The aim of this study is to gauge the factors that potentially increase the interest of girls studying Physics. The study will be focusing at the girls’ aptitude, their opinions on the Physics curriculum, motivational factors from the surroundings and their knowledge of the histories of Physics inventions. Purposive sampling will be employed to both girls and boys that is currently taking Physics at the upper secondary level and their respective Physics teachers. This study wishes to find the factors that will make girls see Physics as an exciting subject as seen by boys. The results will be used to encourage more girls engaged with Physics in future and reducing the gaps in the man’s domination in the Physics-related careers.