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Good Intentions Research
Girl Scout Study Finds That More Youth Today Say They Would
Make Responsible Choices than Predecessors 20 Years Ago
A nationwide survey released in December 2009 by Girl Scouts of the USA finds that more American teenagers say they would make responsible decisions on a range of issues from lying and cheating to smoking and drinking than young people just a generation ago.
The study, conducted by the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI), is nearly identical to one Girl Scouts commissioned in 1989, and a comparison of the two studies shows a marked shift toward more ethical and responsible beliefs and values and civic involvement among teens and tweens.
Nearly two out of three young people (62 percent) surveyed in 2009, for example, say they would not cheat on a test compared to about half in 1989. Fifty-eight percent say they would refuse an alcoholic drink if offered one at a party. That’s compared to fewer than half (46 percent) in 1989. And only 18 percent say they believe smoking is acceptable if a person finds it enjoyable. In 1989, more than a quarter of those surveyed thought smoking was acceptable.
“It’s vitally important for youth-serving organizations such as the Girl Scouts to understand the relevant perspectives and behaviors of today’s young people,” said Maria Wynne, CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
“Our values-based program for girls impacts them during some of their most formative years. By understanding what they are thinking and how they need to be supported, we can provide them with an enriched and contemporary experience that will shape their character and will, in turn, have a positive generational impact,” Wynne added.
The survey, Good Intentions: The Beliefs and Values of Teens and Tweens Today, involved a nationwide survey of 3,263 girls and boys from the 3rd through 12th grades that queried them on issues ranging from ethics and diversity to civic involvement and peer pressure. The study was conducted with Harris Interactive (formerly Louis Harris Inc., the same firm that worked on the 1989 study.)