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Research Report
Module Code: HRPYC81
Research Report for Project: 4809
Assignment Number: 42
Title of Study: What motivates people to do volunteer work?
Examination Period: October/November 2022
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Contents
Title: What motivates people to do volunteer work? .............................................................................. 3
Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Research problem................................................................................................................................ 4
Literature review ................................................................................................................................. 4
Defining motivation and volunteerism ........................................................................................... 5
Motivations behind volunteer work as observed by researchers..................................................... 6
Altruism vs. Egoism........................................................................................................................ 8
What influences volunteers to stay with their organizations? ....................................................... 10
Research rationale ............................................................................................................................. 11
The aim of the research ..................................................................................................................... 13
Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Research design ............................................................................................................................ 13
Participants.................................................................................................................................... 14
The interviews ............................................................................................................................... 15
Data analysis ................................................................................................................................. 17
Trustworthiness (validity & reliability .......................................................................................... 20
Ethical consideration ..................................................................................................................... 20
Results (discussion of themes) .......................................................................................................... 22
Nature of organization .................................................................................................................. 22
Love for volunteering.................................................................................................................... 22
Giving vs. gaining ......................................................................................................................... 23
Challenges to volunteering............................................................................................................ 24
Motivation for volunteering .......................................................................................................... 25
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 26
Reference list .................................................................................................................................... 27
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Title: What motivates people to do volunteer work?
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore what motivates people to do volunteer work. Three
volunteers from different occupational and cultural backgrounds were selected to ensure that
the participants were as individually different as possible. These participants were then
interviewed individually where they were asked a list of questions relating to their
experiences as volunteers. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using
thematic analysis. Four themes were discovered as motivations for volunteer work: the nature
of the organisation, family influence, age and giving versus gaining. A fifth theme was found
describing challenges that participants encountered whilst doing volunteer work. The study
found that volunteers are more likely to volunteer if the nature of an organisation, including
how it was established, appeals to them and if their families encourage helping behaviour by
modelling this behaviour and engaging in it themselves. It also found that younger people
might feel that they do not have enough life experience to handle difficult situations and that
people are motivated to do volunteer work because they feel they are making a difference in
other people‟s lives, bringing happiness and positive change to others and simply because
they want to help others, however, they do gain experience, friendships and the knowledge of
their actions making a difference in the lives of others. Volunteers are also faced with
challenges such as discouragement of emotional attachment, limited resources and support
for the people that they help outside of the organizations and a lack of recognition for their
hard work. These challenges can hinder people‟s motivations to do volunteer work.
Research Report
Module Code: HRPYC81
Research Report for Project: 4809
Assignment Number: 42
Title of Study: What motivates people to do volunteer work?
Examination Period: October/November 2022
, Page |2
Contents
Title: What motivates people to do volunteer work? .............................................................................. 3
Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Research problem................................................................................................................................ 4
Literature review ................................................................................................................................. 4
Defining motivation and volunteerism ........................................................................................... 5
Motivations behind volunteer work as observed by researchers..................................................... 6
Altruism vs. Egoism........................................................................................................................ 8
What influences volunteers to stay with their organizations? ....................................................... 10
Research rationale ............................................................................................................................. 11
The aim of the research ..................................................................................................................... 13
Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Research design ............................................................................................................................ 13
Participants.................................................................................................................................... 14
The interviews ............................................................................................................................... 15
Data analysis ................................................................................................................................. 17
Trustworthiness (validity & reliability .......................................................................................... 20
Ethical consideration ..................................................................................................................... 20
Results (discussion of themes) .......................................................................................................... 22
Nature of organization .................................................................................................................. 22
Love for volunteering.................................................................................................................... 22
Giving vs. gaining ......................................................................................................................... 23
Challenges to volunteering............................................................................................................ 24
Motivation for volunteering .......................................................................................................... 25
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 26
Reference list .................................................................................................................................... 27
, Page |3
Title: What motivates people to do volunteer work?
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore what motivates people to do volunteer work. Three
volunteers from different occupational and cultural backgrounds were selected to ensure that
the participants were as individually different as possible. These participants were then
interviewed individually where they were asked a list of questions relating to their
experiences as volunteers. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using
thematic analysis. Four themes were discovered as motivations for volunteer work: the nature
of the organisation, family influence, age and giving versus gaining. A fifth theme was found
describing challenges that participants encountered whilst doing volunteer work. The study
found that volunteers are more likely to volunteer if the nature of an organisation, including
how it was established, appeals to them and if their families encourage helping behaviour by
modelling this behaviour and engaging in it themselves. It also found that younger people
might feel that they do not have enough life experience to handle difficult situations and that
people are motivated to do volunteer work because they feel they are making a difference in
other people‟s lives, bringing happiness and positive change to others and simply because
they want to help others, however, they do gain experience, friendships and the knowledge of
their actions making a difference in the lives of others. Volunteers are also faced with
challenges such as discouragement of emotional attachment, limited resources and support
for the people that they help outside of the organizations and a lack of recognition for their
hard work. These challenges can hinder people‟s motivations to do volunteer work.
