The present study was designed to determine if a subject pool, in which all students enrolled in a course must participate, would reveal the same differences as had been found between volunteers and nonvolunteers, as well as the differences found in subjects participating in different types of studies,

A growing body of empirical evidence suggests that attending specialized summer camps is beneficial for chronically ill youth (Briery & Rabian, 1999). However, there is some inconsistency across studies regarding these benefits (Hazzard & Angert, 1986). One potential explanation for these differences across camps is that they may differ in how well they recruit and train effective volunteer camp counselors. This possibility cannot be explored until more research is conducted identifying what type of person volunteers to work with chronically ill children and how they differ from others. In response to this gap in the research literature, the present study was conducted to examine characteristics of volunteer camp counselors (n =72), a group of nonvolunteers (n = 325), and a group of volunteer mentors (n = 194). Guided by Omoto and Snyder’s (1990) volunteer process model, the investigation explored how counselors differed from others in terms of dispositional variables, knowledge, and experience; and the relation between these individual characteristics and ratings of counselor efficacy was explored. Changes in counselors’ knowledge of and/or attitudes toward chronically ill children after their camp experience were also examined. Results suggest that camp counselors differ from others in terms of dispositional characteristics (e.g., attachment style), knowledge, and experience. Specifically, counselors displayed higher levels of agreeableness, greater attachment security, more knowledge of chronic illness, and greater experience with chronic illness than nonvolunteers. Efforts to predict which counselors would be rated as most effective were unsuccessful. Counselors’ knowledge of illness increased over the course of their camp experience.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2001Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:07:39Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 carneiro_c_dr_fran.pdf: 241616 bytes, checksum: 3b941630aa32b274ffd6f11da0e235fb (MD5) / A presente tese tem como propósito investigar trabalho voluntário, considerando o lugar estratégico que ocupa nas sociedades complexas, modernas e globalizadas, e, surpreender, na trajetória histórica pessoal de alguns sujeitos paradigmáticos , as formas de comparecimento do trabalho voluntário: modo de apropriação, tática de inserção primária para futura inserção formal no mercado de trabalho; ou modo de reapropriação, tática de recuperação do valor humano do trabalho, capaz de superar simbolicamente os percalços da alienação. Para tanto, fez-se necessário traçarmos mapas dos conflitos enfrentados pelos sujeitos paradigmáticos, (Subgrupo de Apropriação) e (Subgrupo de Reapropriação), e das soluções encontradas por eles na manutenção de perfis satisfatórios à composição de uma identidade criativa. A partir da aplicação de Entrevistas, foram coletados os discursos. A interpretação dos depoimentos teve como base a Análise de Discursos e o uso das categorias: trabalho(ontogênica), ser social, concepção de mundo, ideologia(operacionais) e modo de apropriação e modo de reapropriação (explicativas). Os principais resultados do mapa de conflitos são: dificuldade em conciliar condição ideal de qualificação profissional com ausência de trabalho remunerado, constrangimento em auferir reconhecimento profissional em trabalho voluntário, incompatibilidade entre exercício de projeto social e necessidades de consumo; ausência de satisfação e compensações e significados no trabalho remunerado, desgaste, constrangimento, inexplicáveis sentimentos de vazio. Os principais resultados encontrados para o subgrupo de apropriação: trabalho voluntário é exercido como lugar de formação profissional, curricular, transição, espera de treinamento primário em serviço a preencher o vazio da ausência do trabalho remunerad... / The present thesis has the purpose of investigating the volunteer work, considering the strategic place that it occupies in complex, modern and globalized societies, and to surprise, in the historical personal trajectory of some paradigmatic people, the forms of volunteer work attendance: way of appropriation, tactic of primary insertions for future formal insertion in the working market; or way of reappropriation, tactic of recuperation of the human work value, able to overcome symbolically the perquisites of alienation. For all, it was necessary to draw maps of conflicts that were faced by the paradgmic people (subgroup of appropriation) and (Subgroup of reappropriation), and of the solutions found by them in the maintenance of satisfactory outlines to the composition of a creative identity. From the application of interviews, the speeches were collected. The interpretation of the testimonies had as basis the Analysis of Speeches and the use of the categories: work (ontogeny), being social, world conception, ideology (operational) and way of appropriation and reappropriation (explanatory). The main results of the map of conflicts are: difficulty in conciliating ideal condition of professional qualification without salary, embarrassment in gaining professional recognition in volunteer work, incompatibility between exercising social projects and consumption needs; absence of satisfaction and compensation and meanings in paid work, wastage, embarrassment, incomprehensible empty feelings. The main results found for the appropriation subgroup: volunteer work is practiced as a place of professional formation, curricular, transitional, wait of primary training in service to fulfill the emptiness of the unpaid work. For the subgroup of reappropriation: volunteer work is a triumphant result,...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

The two research questions presented in this study are: (1) What factors motivate cities to include volunteer service in strategies designed to address local challenges? and (2) How do cities describe the impact of initiatives that rely on volunteer service to address local challenges? This constructivist grounded theory study (Charmaz, 2006) uses the data coding technique proposed by Corbin and Strauss (2008). Themes in the data are uncovered through the coding process, which includes open coding, axial coding, and selective coding (Corbin & Strauss, 2008). The triangulated data for this study derives from two types of sources: extant texts and key informant interview transcripts from the 39 key informant interviews conducted for this study. The criterion-based purposive sample (Patton, 2002) for this study includes 39 cities belonging to the Cities of Service coalition as of June 2012 that participated in key informant interviews through elected or appointed officials. The Cities of Service coalition is made up of over 100 cities that have subscribed to a Declaration of Service resolving and committing to engage citizens in strategies to address local challenges (Cities of Service, 2010). The Cities of Service initiative specifically promotes the use of volunteer service in addressing local challenges. This study makes a theoretical contribution to the scholarship on volunteering by proposing a grounded theory model for volunteer service demand. The findings of this study suggest that the motivational bases for local governments to engage volunteers in iii strategies to address local challenges are economic motivation, aspirational motivation, and need-based motivation. Additionally, certain feasibility considerations bear on volunteer service demand by local governments. Those feasibility considerations relate to the liability climate, skilled volunteer supply, partnership opportunities, manageability, measurability of impact, and resources. Using data from city organizational charts and 2010 U.S. Census data, the researcher explored whether differences existed as to motivational bases for volunteer service demand relative to city size, mayoral political affiliation, and form of government. No statistically significant differences existed with respect to city size or mayoral political affiliation. The data for this study suggest that cities organized according to the council-manager form of government are less likely to report aspirational motivations for volunteer service demand than cities organized according to the strong mayor-council or weak mayor-council form of government (χ2 =14.36; df=2; p-value=0.007). Additionally, as to need-driven motivations, cities organized according to the council-manager form of government were less likely to be motivated to include volunteers in strategies to address local challenges based on citizen need than cities with the strong mayor-council or weak mayor-council forms of government (χ2 =6.59; df=2; p-value=0.036). According to the findings in this study relative to the second research question, cities assess the impact of service in a variety of ways. Specifically, cities report assessing the impact of volunteer service initiatives in three ways: (1) by creating metrics; (2) by measuring outcomes; and (3) by telling qualitative stories. Notably, two cities report that iv they applying a mix of methods to assessing the impact of volunteer service. The grounded theory model for volunteer service demand and the coded data presented in this study were used to create a generalized logic model for assessing the impact of volunteer service as a strategy to address pressing local issues. Additional findings were made on the data. In particular, a typology for citizen service for cities grounded in the data for this study is presented as an additional finding. The typology identifies four ways citizens serve cities through volunteerism: (1) by serving as ambassadors; (2) by giving money; (3) by supporting city function; and (4) by delivering services. Differences between cities with respect to citywide volunteer coordination based on city size, mayoral political affiliation, and form of government were also explored. A statistically significant difference was observed between small and large cities with respect to the existence of citywide volunteer coordination (χ2 =5.68; df=1; p value=0.007). No statistically significant relationships between mayoral political affiliation or form of government and citywide volunteer coordination were found in this study. Finally, nonthematic observations on the data are presented. These non-thematic observations are comprised of data that did not emerge as a core category of data with respect to the research questions. In sum, cities drive demand for volunteer service, and that demand can be explained through certain motivational bases—economic, aspirational, and need-based—together with various feasibility considerations. Citizens meet the demand for volunteer service in a variety of ways, as the typology offered in this study suggests. The impact of this service v demanded by cities and supplied by citizens can be assessed in a multitude of ways. This study shows that, while assessing the impact of volunteer service as a strategy to address local challenges may be inherently difficult, employing a logic model may be useful to effectively communicate the impact of volunteer service as a strategy to address local challenges.

Abstract Problem Formal Volunteers in volunteer based organizations drop out at a fast pace due to many reasons like lack of interest what they are doing, conflict among volunteers, lack of motivation, job dissatisfaction due to prolonged volunteering etc.  which is causing to improper functioning of these organizations and reaches a point where these volunteer based organizations find it difficult to function properly. The author in this study tries to address this particular issue of this drop out of formal volunteers. Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the factors which helps in the retention of formal volunteers in a volunteer based organization for a longer period. Method The research in this paper is done in a qualitative way with primary data collected in the form of participant observation and open interview in two voluntary organizations. The collected data is analyzed in content analysis. The secondary data is collected in the form of necessary documents provided by the participating organizations. Results Many factors were found to influence retention of volunteers namely Job satisfaction, Motivation, Public Service Motivation, Organizational Commitment, Mission Attachment, Work load, Relationship with Coworkers, Justice of Organization, Flexible Timing, Training & Orientation.  Conclusions Recommendations to improve retention is mentioned and a future model is also proposed. The result obtained from this research can be generalized to other form of small scale volunteer organizations where the major employees are formal volunteers.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1975. / Typewritten.

Natural waterways form an integral part of the urban and rural environment. In New Zealand, their uses are generally related to agriculture, drainage, power generation and recreation, but their value also extends to providing ecological services that are vital to the maintenance of a fully functioning environment. In the areas of the world that are considered to be developed, several functions and services that waterway systems initially would have provided, have been degraded, or lost completely, due to water abstractions, altered flow regimes and input of pollutants. In New Zealand, and around the world, groups of volunteers give up their time in order to help monitor the quality and state of waterways. However, there remains a distrust of data generated by such groups throughout the scientific community. This concern is also voiced by members of these groups, querying what the point of their monitoring is, if the data has no real use. As a result of this uncertainty about the data quality and its subsequent uses, data is often just entered onto a database with little, or no, analysis conducted. The purpose of this research was to ascertain the quality of the data generated by volunteers groups in New Zealand by comparing it with data collected by professionals from city and regional councils. Volunteer monitoring methods and tools were also compared with those available to professionals in order to determine if any differences observed were a product of equipment, or other factors. However, data generation is not the only purpose of these volunteer groups. By being involved, volunteers are gaining education, practical skills and knowledge they may not have access to otherwise, and they are meeting people and strengthening community ties. Volunteers from each group therefore also completed a survey to determine their knowledge of the programme they participate in, of the environment and freshwater, and to collect some basic background information. The Styx Living Laboratory Trust (SLLT) in Christchurch, the Wakapuaka Rivercare Group in Nelson and Wai Care in Auckland were the three New Zealand community water monitoring groups chosen to be the subject of this study. Generally, the volunteer conductivity and pH data was significantly different from that of their professional counterparts, with large differences obvious in the data sets from all three groups. Water temperature was the only variable that was consistently similar for volunteer and professional data. Comparison of the SLLT’s methods with professional-level methods, however, revealed that differences in the data sets may be due to a combination of factors including equipment (e.g., use of pH colour strips instead of meters), and variation in the monitoring protocols, rather than a lack of quality in the volunteer data. However, new dissolved oxygen and nitrogen monitoring methods utilised by Wai Care did produce some promising results, with some of the comparisons unable to be statistically differentiated from the professional data set. Visual assessment of the SLLT data over time suggests seasonal patterns in pH and conductivity, and possible increases in water clarity over time. Statistical analysis of the individual variables of pH, water temperature, clarity and conductivity, in the SLLT data revealed several significant predictors and interactions, including time, date and pH among other things. However, the very small effect size and the large data set suggest this may just be a product of the large data set with very few of these variable interactions having any real meaning with regards to management. Volunteers were predominantly over the age of 40, and were generally either very new recruits to their monitoring programmes (<6 months) or had been involved for a reasonably long time (>5 years). There were differing patterns of involvement between the groups with the WRG having volunteers mainly involved for >10 years while the SLLT had a large number of new recruits. There were also varying reasons volunteers chose to become involved however, the predominant reason was concern for the environment. Approximately half of the volunteers surveyed proved to be very knowledgeable about their programme and understood the purposes of the monitoring programme, although most were associated with a science-related industry and therefore likely already had this knowledge. More education and training would be needed to bring all of the other volunteers up to this level. All volunteers had good knowledge of issues in New Zealand’s environment and freshwater currently face, with public apathy considered the most pressing issue. In summary, despite the lack of clear statistical similarities between volunteer and professional data sets for some variables, the data do not appear to be randomly inaccurate and could be corrected to be combined with professional data. The benefits the volunteers gain appear to outweigh any issues that may be present in the data, as long as the volunteers perceive the data to be ultimately useful. Volunteer-based water quality monitoring has proved to be a valuable way to gather environmental data, educate the community and improve their commitment to local waterways.

Thesis (D.Ed.Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004. / Includes abstract. Includes prospectus. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-141).

Thesis (B.A.)--Haverford College, Dept. of History, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

To effectively provide services to citizens, local governments have had to be creative. One approach has been the creation of volunteer programs to meet demands and expanding needs. Volunteer programs hold promise for creating meaningful engagement opportunities for citizens. However, limited organizational capacity, inadequate volunteer management practices, and difficulties in maintaining volunteer retention are concerns plaguing local government volunteer programs. Volunteer programs are often structured around a set of best practices thought to be necessary for ensuring the retention of volunteers. To apply best practices across the board would suggest that local government volunteer programs are similar in organizational structure, budget size, amount of citizen engagement, accountability concerns, and that they adopt similar bureaucratic procedures. Using human relations and bureaucratic theories as theoretical frameworks, four research questions are asked and answered: 1) What are the managerial and political challenges in volunteer management and retention for local government volunteer coordinators?, 2) What challenges are local governments' volunteer coordinators facing in using volunteer management practices?, 3) What strategies are helpful in retaining volunteers in local government volunteerism?, and 4) What challenges do local government volunteer coordinators face in engaging citizens? Data collection for this qualitative study was conducted using online surveys and telephone semi-structured interviews. The findings suggest that creating meaningful work for volunteers and coordinating this work with local government managers was an important "best practices" challenge. Although local government volunteer programs also have a mission of engaging citizens, the practices actually used may directly conflict with their mission. Many volunteer management practices are supporting organizational goals rather than supporting the needs of volunteers. The study findings suggest that the best practices used by local governments are not given equal weight and "one size does not fit all." Instead, local governments must prioritize their practices carefully.