Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2003. / Field problem. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 196 p.; also includes graphics Includes bibliographical references (p. 58-173). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (M.App.Psy.)--University of Waikato, 2008. / Title from PDF cover (viewed October 3, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-79)

This thesis is an analysis of voluntary associations as studied by sociologists. One aspect of the study is to determine theoretical implications and major structural-functional characteristics of associations as they have developed during the last five decades. The data were obtained from a content analysis of articles in four major sociological journals from 1920 to 1968.

Thesis (B. Psy. Sc.(Hons.))--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

This study focused on the Australian health sector, examining the factors that influence the intention of volunteers to leave their employing organizations. There is a general scarcity of research concerning volunteer work, and understanding health sector volunteers is particularly important due to the significance of their contribution in Australia. In exploring volunteer work, this study has utilized a variant of the Mathieu and Zajac (1990) model of organizational commitment. In the health sector much of the work performed by volunteers is very similar to that done by paid employees. In addition, in the Australian health sector volunteers and paid employees often work alongside one another. The methodology integrated quantitative and qualitative data in order to generate a broad understanding of the factors influencing volunteer intention to leave an organization. Using the Mathieu and Zajac model variant, a hypothesis was developed and investigated. Quantitative data was gathered through the Job Characteristics Index (JCI), General Job Satisfaction Survey, and Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ). In light of the quantitative findings not supporting the initial hypothesis of job characteristics being antecedent to intention to leave as mediated by job satisfaction and organizational commitment, a grounded theory approach was used to explore the antecedent factors. Qualitative data was gathered through open-ended questions in the survey and interviews. The following relationships were discovered and explored: motivation and job characteristics impacted upon the meaningfulness of volunteer work and upon organizational commitment, which had a covarying relationship with job satisfaction. The job characteristics of task identity, feedback and friendship opportunities were correlated with organizational commitment. In essence, the factors of motivation (recognized as altruism) and meaningfulness of work that volunteers do in the Australian health sector determine how the job characteristics and other factors will influence the decision to leave an organization. The study discusses key findings and presents recommendations for relating to effective management of volunteers in the health sector. As a secondary outcome, the study demonstrates the value of judiciously using models and measures normally associated with paid employment in understanding volunteer activity. It is anticipated that these outcomes will inform future research within the volunteer sector.

This thesis reports on a study examining the direct and indirect costs to volunteer carers of providing a fostering service in Australia. The study highlights the current difficulties in carer recruitment and retention, the increases in the challenging and complex needs of the children coming into care, and the growing professionalism of fostering. The study uses a budgetary approach to estimate the direct costs of fostered children. In-depth interviews and focus groups with carers are instrumental in providing a range of perspectives that assist our understanding of how the direct costs of fostered children are different from (higher than) the costs of other children. The study found the costs of fostered children were 40 per cent higher than the costs of children not in care. The thesis indicates that, to maintain and retain a volunteer workforce, an adequate carer remuneration system to meet the direct costs of fostered children is critical. To examine the indirect costs of fostering, the study uses a multi-method approach providing a monetary value of the opportunity costs (foregone earnings model) and time costs (proxy good or market replacement model) for foster carers. The emotional and psychological dimensions of fostering are also examined, though no monetary value is assigned to these costs. Carers??? vivid and contrasting stories from the interviews explain how ???money??? fits with carer motivation and fostering???s more professional role, how carers perceive the nature of fostering (job or parenting), and whether carers should be paid to foster. Revelations of fostering???s emotional and time dimensions and restricted employment opportunities (indirect costs) highlight the impact fostering has on carers and their families. The study found that the indirect costs of fostered children were around four times the value of the direct costs. In light of the growing professionalism of contemporary foster care, difficulties in carer recruitment/retention, and the demanding nature of fostering, the thesis examines whether carers should be paid for the service they provide (compensation for indirect costs). Using a number of theoretical concepts developed by feminist economists and social theorists on paying for caring labour, the thesis found support for the contention that altruism (???love???) and carer pay (???money???) are not incompatible, and ambiguities and tensions for foster mothers around money and love can be resolved. Studies of countries where carers receive a wage component as part of their remuneration package provide insights into wage levels, perceived adequacy of the wage, and the impact of wages on carer recruitment/retention. The study found that, due to the profoundly gendered nature of fostering, the compensatory aspects of remuneration (fee/wage or salary) are generally poor. The implications for government welfare spending of paying Australian carers are discussed, and the savings to governments of using a volunteer workforce are demonstrated.

PhD / This thesis examines the participation of British ‘soldiers of conscience’ in the Greek War of Independence, the Spanish Civil War and the Russo-Finnish War. By considering both the response of the British government to the participation of its nationals in foreign conflicts, and the perceptions and experiences of the volunteers themselves, it argues for the applicability of a legitimating ‘politics of violence’ as means for understanding the historical construction of warfare.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 242-259). Also available online in PDF format.