Why Do They Do It? A Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis of Crisis Volunteers' Motivations

Abstract

The literature on volunteers’ motivations is extensive; however, a comprehensive theoretical and empirical knowledge base pertaining to their motivations in crisis settings is lacking. This article furthers the knowledge base related to volunteers’ motivations and demonstrates a unique method of qualitative data analysis rarely used in the field of social work—qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS). The authors conducted a QIMS of five qualitative studies. The method was developed specifically for the field of social work. It is grounded in traditional qualitative methodology, and it draws from other disciplines that have embracedqualitativemeta-synthesisascommonpractice.QIMS involvessynthesizing the results of multiple qualitative studies on a topic into a new, synergistic understanding of the topic under study. The QIMS generated six themes: (1) internal motivation to make an external difference, (2) volunteer existentialism, (3) lived experience, (4) internal/personal fulfillment, (5) lack of direction, and (6) lack of support. Findings demonstrate implications for three areas that relate to the functioning of agencies with volunteers who provide crisis services through hotlines: (1) recruitment, (2) screening, and (3) management (for example, training and supervision). Furthermore, two major strengths in using QIMS were identified: (1) broadening of extrapolation possibilities and (2) extensive triangulation.