TITLE: WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO DO VOLUNTEER WORK?
AUTHOR: 54706238
ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this proposal was to obtain an understanding of what motivates
people to do volunteer work and to improve the knowledge based on the
motivation of volunteers as the topic regarding the motivation of volunteerism is
greatly under researched. The lack of sufficient knowledge about the
phenomenon in question about what motivates people to do volunteer work
constitutes the research problem.
A qualitative design was chosen for the study. Three individual semi-structured
interviews were conducted from volunteers who currently do volunteer work to
gather data regarding the topic in question. Thematic analysis was enforced to
interpret the meanings of the volunteers and their experiences where aimed to
enhance future understanding of what motivates people to do volunteer work.
Four themes were disclosed: Self-actualization and development, the need to
help beyond, drive to change and the pursuit of happiness.
The interpretations disclose shows a desire within volunteers to actually become
their potential selves. Volunteers relate to the concerns of autonomy,
competence and relatedness as a whole. The drive to make a difference in
people’s lives was a phenomenal aspect which contributed to the soundness of
the research. Volunteering creates a sense of meaning and hope which
contributes to the psychological well-being and health of volunteers.
In conclusion, the most profound question of what motivates people to do
volunteer work remains unanswered.
Page 1
,The Course Leader: HMPYC80
Department of Psychology
University of South Africa
2020-04-05
Dear Sir/Madam
RE: Research Proposal: What motivates people to do volunteer work?
I am currently associated with Unisa where I am an honours student in
Psychology. I have a special interest in the motivation of people volunteering due
to my personal experience and background of volunteerism. I attach a proposal
for further research in this field.
The reason for approaching you is to submit this proposal for assessment by a
peer group. The proposed project is required for my course in Research
Methodology. It, therefore, seems appropriate to submit this project for
assessment by my peers in order to see what they think of the topic and of my
ability to write a proposal for a scientific study.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours sincerely
Imke Joubert
12 Denne Road
Bedfordview
Page 2
, TITLE: WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO DO VOLUNTEER WORK?
KEYWORDS: Motivation, Bi-Dimensional Models, Volunteerism, Volunteer,
Altruistic behavior, Perceptions.
1. BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Although many previous studies suggest that different motives can drive
affiliative behaviors in different relationship contexts (e.g., Kenrick et al., 2002;
Collins & Bersheid, 2000), the extent to which altruistic versus egoistic motives
differentially promote helping within different relationship contexts remains
relatively unexplored.
What motivates people to do volunteer work? Do people really enhance the lives
and welfare of others out of pure altruistic selflessness or are their motives
driven by their own selfish agendas? Decades of research and philosophical
debates have been conducted, yet the motivation behind volunteerism is still not
yet fully answered. The lack of sufficient knowledge about the phenomenon in
question about what motivates people to do volunteer work constitutes the
research problem.
Considering the fact that motivation is different among people and its reliance on
situational factors, sub questions occur that have to be answered to fulfill the
objective of this research.
The general intention of this research proposal is to establish a greater
understanding regarding the question of what motivates people to do volunteer
work. There is a major dent in the knowledge of why people do volunteer work
and the experiences they have while doing volunteer work. There is not much
research on this topic and the researcher aims to explore the unknown of
volunteerism and the motivation behind it.
There is no true answer as to why people remain committed or feel obligated to
their altruistic motives. The researcher also aims to do an exploratory analysis of
why volunteers stay committed through volunteerism by going beyond the need
to help others. This study also aimed to dig deeper and to collect data first hand
in order to gain access to primary information and data in order to achieve these
goals.
Page 3
AUTHOR: 54706238
ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this proposal was to obtain an understanding of what motivates
people to do volunteer work and to improve the knowledge based on the
motivation of volunteers as the topic regarding the motivation of volunteerism is
greatly under researched. The lack of sufficient knowledge about the
phenomenon in question about what motivates people to do volunteer work
constitutes the research problem.
A qualitative design was chosen for the study. Three individual semi-structured
interviews were conducted from volunteers who currently do volunteer work to
gather data regarding the topic in question. Thematic analysis was enforced to
interpret the meanings of the volunteers and their experiences where aimed to
enhance future understanding of what motivates people to do volunteer work.
Four themes were disclosed: Self-actualization and development, the need to
help beyond, drive to change and the pursuit of happiness.
The interpretations disclose shows a desire within volunteers to actually become
their potential selves. Volunteers relate to the concerns of autonomy,
competence and relatedness as a whole. The drive to make a difference in
people’s lives was a phenomenal aspect which contributed to the soundness of
the research. Volunteering creates a sense of meaning and hope which
contributes to the psychological well-being and health of volunteers.
In conclusion, the most profound question of what motivates people to do
volunteer work remains unanswered.
Page 1
,The Course Leader: HMPYC80
Department of Psychology
University of South Africa
2020-04-05
Dear Sir/Madam
RE: Research Proposal: What motivates people to do volunteer work?
I am currently associated with Unisa where I am an honours student in
Psychology. I have a special interest in the motivation of people volunteering due
to my personal experience and background of volunteerism. I attach a proposal
for further research in this field.
The reason for approaching you is to submit this proposal for assessment by a
peer group. The proposed project is required for my course in Research
Methodology. It, therefore, seems appropriate to submit this project for
assessment by my peers in order to see what they think of the topic and of my
ability to write a proposal for a scientific study.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours sincerely
Imke Joubert
12 Denne Road
Bedfordview
Page 2
, TITLE: WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO DO VOLUNTEER WORK?
KEYWORDS: Motivation, Bi-Dimensional Models, Volunteerism, Volunteer,
Altruistic behavior, Perceptions.
1. BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Although many previous studies suggest that different motives can drive
affiliative behaviors in different relationship contexts (e.g., Kenrick et al., 2002;
Collins & Bersheid, 2000), the extent to which altruistic versus egoistic motives
differentially promote helping within different relationship contexts remains
relatively unexplored.
What motivates people to do volunteer work? Do people really enhance the lives
and welfare of others out of pure altruistic selflessness or are their motives
driven by their own selfish agendas? Decades of research and philosophical
debates have been conducted, yet the motivation behind volunteerism is still not
yet fully answered. The lack of sufficient knowledge about the phenomenon in
question about what motivates people to do volunteer work constitutes the
research problem.
Considering the fact that motivation is different among people and its reliance on
situational factors, sub questions occur that have to be answered to fulfill the
objective of this research.
The general intention of this research proposal is to establish a greater
understanding regarding the question of what motivates people to do volunteer
work. There is a major dent in the knowledge of why people do volunteer work
and the experiences they have while doing volunteer work. There is not much
research on this topic and the researcher aims to explore the unknown of
volunteerism and the motivation behind it.
There is no true answer as to why people remain committed or feel obligated to
their altruistic motives. The researcher also aims to do an exploratory analysis of
why volunteers stay committed through volunteerism by going beyond the need
to help others. This study also aimed to dig deeper and to collect data first hand
in order to gain access to primary information and data in order to achieve these
goals.
Page 3
