A third of girls spurn a career in technology due to a lack of positive role models according to new research.

The research, by technology experts Research in Motion (RIM), found that 90% of girls aged between 11 and 16 think using technology is cool and chat to friends about it.

Over a third of respondents talked about technology on a daily basis covering subjects as broad as social networking to online gaming. However, only a quarter of girls (28%) have thought of a career in technology compared to 52% of boys.

Two thirds of respondents believed the problem lay in the fact that there were few female role models.

Charmaine Eggberry, vice president and managing director, RIM (Europe Middle East and Africa) and creator of the BlackBerry Women & Technology Awards, said: "There is still a lack of understanding about the phenomenal opportunities a career in or associated with technology has to offer. It is also important to create and celebrate female role models within the technology industry and give young women who are choosing their career paths, access to their inspirational stories."