HRPYC81 - Research Report Portfolio EDITED, Assignment 42.

HRPYC81 - Research Report Portfolio EDITED, Assignment 42. AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY ON THE MOTIVATIONS AND CHALLENGES OF VOLUNTEERING WITHIN A SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT. Research Report Portfolio An Explorative study on the motivations and challenges of volunteering within a South African context. Assignment 42 () Table of Conten Abstract................................................................................................................................................. 4 1. Literature Review..........................................................................................................................5 1.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 The Research Problem..........................................................................................................7 1.2.1 Research Outcome........................................................................................................7 1.2.2 Research Objectives......................................................................................................7 1.3 Motivations for Volunteerism...............................................................................................7 1.3.1 Altruism vs Egoism........................................................................................................7 1.3.2 Theories and models.....................................................................................................7 1.3.3 Context of Volunteering in South Africa.......................................................................7 1.3.4 Challenges and Constraint of Volunteerism..................................................................7 1.3.5 Volunteer Retention......................................................................................................7 1.4 Research Rationale................................................................................................................7 2 Research Methodology.................................................................................................................7 2.1 Research aims........................................................................................................................7 2.2 Research Design....................................................................................................................7 2.3 Participants........................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 Data Collection......................................................................................................................7 2.4.1 Reliability of the Data Gathering Process.....................................................................7 2.4.2 Validity of the Data Gathering Process.........................................................................7 2.5 Data Analysis.........................................................................................................................7 2.5.1 Strengths and Limitations of Thematic Analysis...........................................................7 2.6 Trustworthiness..................................................................................................................... 7 2.7 Ethical Considerations...........................................................................................................7 3 Results........................................................................................................................................... 7 3.1 Discussion of Themes............................................................................................................7 3.1.1 Retirement..................................................................................................................... 7 3.1.2 Religion.......................................................................................................................... 7 3.1.3 Feelings of joy................................................................................................................7 3.1.4 Selfless helping..............................................................................................................7 4 Conclusion..................................................................................................................................... 7 4.1 Summary of Research Findings.............................................................................................7 4.2 Significance of Research Findings.........................................................................................7 4.3 Strengths and Limitations of Research Findings...................................................................7 Page 1 of 13 An Explorative study on the motivations and challenges of volunteering within a South African context. Assignment 42 () 4.4 Implications for Future Research..........................................................................................7 References............................................................................................................................................. 8 Appendices............................................................................................................................................ 9 Appendix I: Letter of Information....................................................................................................9 Appendix II: Informed Consent Form.............................................................................................10 Appendix III: Interview Questions.................................................................................................11 Plagiarism Declaration........................................................................................................................12 Page 2 of 13 An Explorative study on the motivations and challenges of volunteering within a South African context. Assignment 42 () AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY ON THE MOTIVATIONS AND CHALLENGES OF VOLUNTEERING WITHIN A SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT. Abstract There is a substantial amount of work that explores the motivation behind volunteer work. This is an important area of study because volunteers usually form the backbone of the running of most Non-Profit and NonGovernment organisations. This study sought to add to existing knowledge on the motivation behind volunteer work. For this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three volunteers from different organisations. This allowed the researcher to document their personal experiences and perceptions of volunteering in a South African context. The interviews were transcribed, and audio taped, with the permission and assistance of the participants. Recurring themes in these case studies were set forth and linked within the literature. The themes explained the motivation for volunteering also exploring the challenges and constraints that comes with volunteerism. Some of the themes were identified through thematic content analysis and are needing to fill the gap in time that retirement results in with meaningful work, religion, the feelings of joy that volunteering elicits, and a genuinely selfless want to help those in need. Others see volunteering as an experience capable of causing positive changes in an individual’s values and lifestyle, which will promote solidarity and raise awareness of ‘development’ issues in South Africa. It can thus be said that motivations vary from the self-centric to altruistic and organisations are relying on the study of participants’ own perspectives to provide insight into their motivations in order to attract and retain them. Page 3 of 13 An Explorative study on the motivations and challenges of volunteering within a South African context. Assignment 42 () HRPYC81-2020 1. Literature Review 1.1. Introduction Helping other people can be a cure not just for those who are in need but for your soul as well. People in a volunteer capacity perform various roles that fit their talent, interest and or the need of the organisation. A volunteer is defined as a person willingly performing a service without monetary pay (Unger, 1990). For the purpose of this research we define volunteerism according to US History Encyclopaedia as “…contributing one’s time or talents for charitable, educational, social, political or other worthwhile purposes, usually in one’s community, freely and without regard for compensation” these acts are carried out by a volunteer who is “someone who contributes time to helping others with no expectation of pay or other material benefit to herself’ (Wilson & Musick, 1999, p 141). Within South Africa, as a result of limited resources, volunteers are critical - without their services sustainment of non-governmental organisation would often not be possible. Volunteering connects people from different backgrounds and help people to relate to others whose socio-economic environments are completely different from their own. As volunteerism plays a crucial role in the development of South Africa, it is imperative to conduct a study on what motivates people to become a volunteer and what challenges they face, in order to assist in the recruitment, selection, placement, support and sustainment of volunteers and to improve the sustainment of volunteers’ commitment on an ongoing basis. The primary aim of this research focuses on the in-depth understanding of what motivates people to do volunteer work and how these factors affect the outcomes of voluntary work. The secondary aim of the study is to investigate the altruistic, egoistic, or combined motives behind volunteerism, and to investigate what challenges may negatively impact the volunteer’s initial motivations. Motivation is an important area of study because were it not for motivation, mankind would not have achieved all that it has today. Motivational theory has sought to provide explanations for what induces action in people, what guides people in their actions, and what maintains these behaviours (Grant, 2008). The basis for motivational reasons has either been grounded in intrinsic or extrinsic motivational factors, but some researchers make a clear distinction between intrinsic motivation and prosocial motivation as it is believed to be prompted by different things. Intrinsic motivation has been described as having gratifying rewards, whereas prosocial motivation produces happiness and well-being, giving meaning and purpose have been identified as key motivators (Kahn, 1990; Waterman, 1993; Little & McGregor, 1998; Deci, Koestner & Ryan, 2001). Extrinsic motivation is described as effort being motivated by things that are external to the work itself, like compensation and recognition (Amabile, 1993). It can thus be said that intrinsic and prosocial motivation are grounded in altruism, and extrinsic motivation is based on egoism. A substantial proportional of non-profit groups rely on volunteers in pursing their objectives [ CITATION You01 l 7177 ]. The outcome of this study aims to gain insight into the relationship between the volunteer and a host organisation. No matter what motivates the person to be a volunteer it should not only be the organization that benefits from a volunteer, but it should be mutually beneficial. The research objectives are to answer the research question, ‘What motivates people to volunteer,’ will include the researcher interviewing three volunteers who are volunteering at a children’s home in the Northern suburbs of Cape Town, Western Cape. This will be a qualitative study and will utilise one-on-one interviews using open ended questions and will focus on the motivation, challenges and satisfaction of being a volunteer in South Africa. The interviews will be transcribed and a thematic analysis will be conducted to code, classify and analyse the interview data and identify the overarching themes Page 4 of 13 An Explorative study on the motivations and challenges of volunteering within a South African context. Assignment 42 () HRPYC81-2020 and sub-themes for the study. The results will be analysed in relation to the research aims and compared with the literature review to establish any similarities and differences between the findings.