Survey on physics knowledge to evaluate the effects of gender gap on orientation towards STEM courses

The aim of this research is to monitor the gender gap in a sample of high school and university students, through a survey by multiple choice test in a well-defined sector of physics teaching (Nuclear Physics). The survey results were analyzed and compared with a fixed threshold reference value and used as a measurement of empathy toward hard-science topics. The comparison with gender numerousness in the five pupil populations can be used as a parameter to understand how gender unbalance can influence the attitude toward STEM courses of male/female.