On December 3, 2018 GlobeNewswire published a press release sharing stats from a recent survey of 1,000 middle-school girls and their parents, from around the country. The survey conducted by TechGirlz and Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business found that a lack of tech knowledge by parents’ won’t deter girls from being excited about STEM. Also, be sure to check out the Technical.ly Philly article further recapping the findings here.

New study from TechGirlz and Drexel University first to explore relationship between parents, their children and technology instruction

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)- As part Computer Science Education Week and the Hour of Code activities planned for this week, TechGirlz today shared findings from a new survey of its program participants and their parents. Conducted in partnership with Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, this marks the first time a survey has matched responses from girls and their parents in order to gain a deeper understanding of the role parents play in female engagement in technology.

Key learnings from the report include:

• Parents’ affinity for technology only marginally impacts girls’ excitement about using tech;
• Girls from black and Hispanic families report the highest degree of encouragement for tech learning;
• Daughters and parents report widely varying reasons for interest in tech instruction;
• Girls report being more encouraged to learn about technology by their fathers;and
• Interest in tech peaks with girls in 6th and 7th grade and declines thereafter.

“We must dig beyond the headlines about girls in STEM to understand what factors and influences truly inspire and sustain their interest in technology,” said TechGirlz founder and CEO Tracey Welson-Rossman. “This survey shows that, contrary to popular belief, girls are interested in tech, and that they will seek out instruction regardless of their parents’ affinity with technology. It should reassure parents they can set their daughters on the path to a rewarding, empowering career in tech with support and encouragement, even if they do not understand the subject matter themselves.”

This fourth annual survey of girls and their parents polled more than 1,000 participants to record experience with and outcomes from the TechGirlz program. It also explored the influences and relationships with technology overall for both parents and their daughters. *See the specific findings in the full press release.

“Our findings begin a powerful conversation for parents, showing that, regardless of their relationship with technology, they can develop strategies to promote and encourage girls’ technology interests at a young age.” -Murugan Anandarajan, PhD, professor of management information systems at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business