Abstract:
The study of females‘ interest in physics is an issue of
international concern. Of the sciences, physics is the
subject in which the increase in the number of females
involved has been particularly low. The term ‗interest‘
may usually refers to preference to engage in some
types of activities rather than others. This study
investigated whether Ghanaian Senior High School
female science students would prefer to study physics
at the university or not and the reasons for their
choice. Two hundred and one final year female
students in four Senior High Schools offering biology,
chemistry and physics in the Cape Coast Metropolis of
the Central Region of Ghana, participated in the study.
Data was obtained with Questionnaire on Female
Participation in Physics and Interview Protocol,
administered to the female students. The findings from
the study suggest that female students do not prefer
physics as a course of study at the university level due
to limited career opportunities in the subject. An
implication from this study is that female enrolment in
physics will not improve unless information about
career awareness in the subject is made available to
students. Serious efforts must be made by physics
educators as well as Physics Departments to create
awareness of career opportunities in the study of
physics.
