Event Volunteers Research Articles

Examining the Role of Self-concept Theory on Motivation, Satisfaction, and Intent to Return of Music Festival Volunteers

Volunteers play a critical role in the production of festivals and events in many ways, such as providing assistance to artists and vendors, direction for attendees, and grounds keeping. However, determining what motivates volunteers, how they become satisfied, and how likely they are to continue volunteering at an event has been overlooked. This is especially true in reference to the music festival industry, which has seen unparalleled growth in the last decade. In order to further understand music festival volunteers, the concept of self-image was examined at the 2013 Austin City Limits Music Festival to determine linkages between self-image congruency and motivation, satisfaction, and intent to return using structural equation modeling. This music festival is of specific interest to the development of understanding the role of self-image in festivals and events due to the scale and size of the festival as well as the festival's requirement of being a local resident in order to volunteer. As such, the importance of understanding these local volunteers at a mega-event, which hosts 75,000 attendees per day over two 3-day weekends, is vital. This study found that self-image congruency has an impact on motivation, satisfaction, and intent to return and develops practical linkages and theoretical support for the consideration of self-image congruency when examining festival and event volunteers in a tourism context.

Volunteers Training for Audio Description Service within the Sochi 2014 Project as Exemplified by ctivity of the Russian State Social University olunteer Center: Research and Findings

Background/Objective: Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi 2014 presented a unique opportunity to use the world's leading experience in the integration of persons with disabilities into the productive life of Russian society through the implementation of a special program for volunteer training - Audio Description commentators for Games. The presented article is based on the practical experience of the Russian State Social University Volunteer Center, attracting volunteers in various events - projects and activities involving persons with disabilities and contains the research results of training Audio Description service volunteers in the framework of Sochi 2014 Project as exemplified by the Center activities. Methods: The paper presents new, modern technique of teaching Audio Description commentators-volunteers which is capable of giving an impetus to the development of a new aspect of social TV and radio. This technique allows acquiring the knowledge and practical experience of interaction with the target group at which Audio Description is aimed; revealing the Audio Description basic properties and principles; gaining practical interaction experience through direct Audio Description; acquiring and working out the skills and the ability to practically describe any kind of objects at Audio Description; simulating situations as close as possible to real commenting Olympic events. Findings: The article analyzes the results of empirical research of the personal characteristics of today's volunteers-Audio Description commentators, practical recommendations are given aimed at improving the efficiency of the selection process in volunteer practice that improves the quality of Audio Description service. Such an integrated approach in the training of volunteers-Audio Description commentators was used for the first time and demonstrated high performance. Application/ Improvements: The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that its conclusions and recommendations can be used in the course of professional psychological selection and psycho-pedagogical support of training, retraining and analysis of volunteers-Audio Description commentators' activities.

Sport event-sponsor fit and its effects on sponsor purchase intentions: a non-consumer perspective among athletes, volunteers and spectators

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore how event volunteers, athletes and onsite spectators perceive the impact of sport event sponsorship on future purchase intentions of the event sponsor brand. Design/methodology/approach – The research problem was based on propositions by Novais and Arcodia (2013) and proposes relationships between sponsor–event fit, brand attitude, perceived brand quality and sponsor brand purchase intentions. Data were collected from 352 Greek sport event consumers from the 2013 Classic Marathon event, in Athens, Greece, using onsite surveys targeting non-sponsor brand consumer spectators, volunteers and athletes. Findings – The results reveal that sponsor–event fit indirectly influenced sponsor brand purchase intentions via brand attitude and brand quality across all three groups. However, the fit did not directly influence perceived brand quality of the sponsor across all three groups and directly influenced purchase intentions of the athlete group. Research limitations/implications – Because of the duration of the event (one day), the sample sizes were not very large. In addition, the study was delimited on one sponsor from a single sport event. Therefore, the findings need to be tested with larger samples and additional sponsors and events to arrive to more robust conclusion about the purchase intention formation and its antecedents across multiple sport event consumer groups. Originality/value – This study explores the power of sponsor–event fit among non-consumers of the sponsor brand and how the “interface” of event consumption through the lenses of three groups, namely, volunteer, spectator and athlete, influences brand attitude, perceived brand quality and sponsor brand purchase intentions.

Motivational profiles of sporting event volunteers

This article presents an approach for segmenting sporting event volunteers according to differences in their motives. Empirical data were obtained from a sample of 1169 volunteers who registered for the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zürich. They completed the ‘Volunteer Motivation Scale for International Sporting Events’ (VMS-ISE) questionaire. The validity of the VMS-ISE was replicated by confirmatory factor analysis and the data were cluster analysed to identify distinct motivation-based volunteer profiles. These segmented volunteers on the basis of mutually exclusive motivational characteristics. The external validity of the four motivation-based types (‘community supporters’, ‘material incentive seekers’, ‘social networkers’ and ‘career and personal growth orienteers’) was confirmed with socio-economic, sport-related and volunteer activity-related variables. It is concluded that motivation-based segmentation represents a useful way of gaining a clearer understanding of the patterns underlying the heterogeneity of sporting events volunteers.

Are All My Volunteers Here to Help Out? Clustering Event Volunteers by Their Motivations

Posed as a question that an event organizer might contemplate in terms of how best to attract and retain event volunteers, this study adds to the event volunteering literature by cluster analyzing volunteers sampled at four sports events using items from the Special Event Volunteer Motivation Scale (SEVMS). The 28 items were first subjected to Exploratory Factor Analysis resulting in four factors (Solidary, Purposive, External Traditions/Commitments, and Spare Time), followed by a two-step clustering procedure and a series of post hoc tests to describe and validate the clusters. As a result of this procedure, three distinct clusters were formed: the Altruists, Socials, and Indifferents. The Altruists and Socials were primarily driven by two distinct internal factors, which respectively represented the Purposive and Solidary factors. The Indifferents appeared to be pushed into volunteering by external forces, rather than intrinsic motivations. Validation revealed that the Indifferents were significantly less satisfied with their volunteer experience than the other two clusters and were also less likely to volunteer in the future. Across the four events sampled, there were distinct patterns of cluster representation, with one event in particular substantially overrepresented by the more negatively inclined Indifferents. The management and research implications of these findings are discussed.

Invite Special Events Volunteers to Help

Invite Special Events Volunteers to Help

A modeling approach to sport volunteer satisfaction

Purpose – In a currently western-dominated body of literature, the purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the relationship between motivation, experience, and satisfaction through a structural equation model. This empirical examination was performed in the context of a mega-sporting event (i.e. Asian Games), while considering sample characteristics and the cultural setting of a Middle Eastern host country (i.e. Qatar). Design/methodology/approach – A survey was disseminated to 12 competition and non-competition venues of the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. There was a convenience sample of 392 volunteers. Findings – Three-factor identification for volunteer motivation (external, purposive, and event related) with 48.76 percent variance explained. One-factor identification for volunteer experience with 66.08 percent of the variance explained. Two-factor identification for volunteer satisfaction (recruitment and training, communication and support) with 68.93 percent of variance explained. The sport volunteer satisfaction model fit data well (root mean square error of approximation=0.04, non-normed fit index=0.98, comparative fit index=0.99, standardized root mean squared residual=0.03). Motivation was positively and significantly related to experience. In turn, experience was positively and significantly related to satisfaction. Research limitations/implications – Limitations included the utilization of a convenience and homogeneous sample (approximately 78 percent were Asian males), and the fact the retention construct was not included in the model. Results indicated the need to further the utilization of modeling approaches in examining psychometric properties of sport event volunteers, as well as expand the knowledge of how eastern cultures perceive the concept of volunteerism. Practical implications – Volunteers at the Asian Games were satisfied due to the fact that their event-related motives were actually fulfilled. Participants’ overall satisfaction levels were high since their experience with the event was also positive. Initially, satisfied volunteers could encourage additional volunteer involvement. An extended community-based volunteer pool could be utilized for a plethora of events in Qatar, thus supporting the country’s aspiration for becoming a hub for international sport events. Originality/value – The authors tested empirically the interrelationship between volunteer motivation, experience, and satisfaction through a structural equation model in a Middle Eastern mega-sporting event.

Human resource management practices to support sport event volunteers

This paper presents the findings of a study that explored the relationship between two specific elements of HRM (perceived organizational support (POS) and perceived supervisor support (PSS)) and the affective commitment (AC) and satisfaction of volunteers involved in a community cycling event. The findings indicate that volunteers' satisfaction can be attributed more to the informal support (or lack thereof) provided by their supervisor (PSS) than the formal procedures implemented by the organization (POS). Volunteers' AC however, can be attributed more to POS than PSS. These results suggest that for some volunteers the supervisor may embody the organization; the support provided by the supervisor on the day of an event can become more important than support provided by the organization prior to the event. A poor supervisor's performance in providing the requisite support may therefore impact more on a volunteer's satisfaction than any failings (or otherwise) of the overall HRM system.

Exploring sense of community among small-scale sport event volunteers

Research question: In response to claims that sport event research over emphasizes economic outcomes and mega-event contexts, this research sought to both assess a scale that measures sense of community among small-scale sport event volunteers, and empirically test if the event volunteer experience enhances sense of community.Research methods: The six-factor Sense of Community in Sport Scale (SCS) was utilized to collect pre- and post-event data from a population of 253 (N = 253) event volunteers in the Niagara region of Canada.Results and findings: Model testing indicated all but one SCS factor, Competition, showed statistical fit with the event volunteer data. Analysis of variance revealed three SCS factors, Common Interest, Equity in Administrative Decisions and Social Spaces, were statistically enhanced following the event.Implications: The findings provide theoretical support for Warner and Dixon's Sport and Sense of Community theory and highlight the positive social impact of small-scale sport events within a community for volunteers.

Adherence to malaria prophylaxis among Peace Corps Volunteers in the Africa region, 2013.

Although malaria can be prevented with prophylaxis, it is diagnosed in over 100 Africa-region Peace Corps Volunteers annually. This suggests that prophylaxis non-adherence is a problem in these non-immune travelers. We investigated Volunteers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding prophylaxis using an internet-based survey during August 19-September 30, 2013. Adherence was defined as taking doxycycline or atovaquone-proguanil daily, or taking mefloquine doses no more than 8 days apart. The survey was sent to 3248 Volunteers. Of 781 whose responses were analyzed, 514 (73%) reported adherence to prophylaxis. The most common reasons for non-adherence were forgetting (n = 530, 90%); fear of long-term adverse effects (LTAEs; n = 316, 54%); and experiencing adverse events that Volunteers attributed to prophylaxis (n = 297, 51%). Two hundred fourteen (27%) Volunteers reported not worrying about malaria. On multivariate analysis controlling for sex and experiencing adverse events Volunteers attributed to prophylaxis, the factor most strongly associated with non-adherence was being prescribed mefloquine (OR 5.4, 95% confidence interval 3.2-9.0). We found moderate adherence and a prevailing fear of LTAEs among Volunteers. Strategies to improve prophylaxis adherence may include medication reminders, increasing education about prophylaxis safety and malaria risk, and promoting prompt management of prophylaxis side effects.

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Including Volunteers with Disabilities—A Podium Performance?

This article presents an examination of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games' volunteers who identified as having access needs and/or disabilities. The methodology draws upon data collected as part of a larger quantitative mixed method research design through an online survey that included open-ended questions. The quantitative element of the online survey was framed by the Special Event Volunteer Motivation Scale together with sociodemographic questions supplemented by disability and access specific questions. The qualitative analysis of the open-ended responses of the experiences of people with disability was framed using the UK government's Office of Disability Issues (ODI) policy conceptualization of the barriers affecting the access and inclusion of people with disability. A small number of volunteers related feedback consistent with the principles of the ODI best practice through good staff support and overall positive experiences. However, other experiences indicate significant organizational, environmental, and structural issues faced by volunteers with disability in the program. The implications of these findings for future event planning processes and broader macropolicy considerations are discussed.

The Study of Social Capital of Event Volunteers and Organizational Citizenship Behavior : A Case of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea Volunteers

The Study of Social Capital of Event Volunteers and Organizational Citizenship Behavior : A Case of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea Volunteers

The Nature of Perceived Organizational Support for Sport Event Volunteers

This article presents the findings of a study that explored the nature of perceived organizational support (POS) of volunteers at Bicycle Victoria's 2010Around the Bay in a Daycycling event. It presents evidence of the antecedents that exist for volunteers at a sport event, based on a series of focus groups and individual interviews with both general and team leader volunteers. The results suggest that sport event volunteers' POS largely comprises the support of their immediate supervisor, and the volunteers' ability to make decisions regarding their role, rather than other drivers that are evident within paid employment settings.

Pioneer volunteers: the role identity of continuous volunteers at sport events

This study examines the role identity of pioneer volunteers. This research expands current conceptualisations of event volunteers to include those individuals who volunteer in a continuous nature in the lead up to a mega-event. Volunteers (n = 125) who had volunteered in the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, as well as during the Games, completed a post-event survey that asked them to respond to open-ended questions about their volunteering experience and identity. Additionally, 10 individuals who were pioneer volunteers at the Sydney Olympics were interviewed 12 years later. Six themes described the experience of pioneer volunteers: friendship and teamwork enabled by prolonged volunteering; prestige and teamwork enabled by a small, select group; behind the scenes access and knowledge of the event; learning enabled by the experience of test events; a sense of connection with and ownership of the event; and transition to Games time roles. Pioneer volunteers experienced a strong and sustained identification with their role, and sought out continued opportunities to volunteer in the post-event period. The existence of a volunteer role identity was evident 12 years after the event. The findings of this research provide valuable lessons for recruitment, retention, and transition of event volunteers.

‘We can do it’: Community, resistance, social solidarity, and long-term volunteering at a sport event

Much research on volunteers has focused on who the volunteers are, and what motivates them on an individual level. This study, however, aims to contextualize the long-term commitment found in a whole community of volunteers and to explain this pattern of collective volunteering not in terms of individual motivations but in terms of broader social processes. Data gathered from interviews with volunteers in Vikersund, Norway, and the analysis of local and national press coverage in the years leading up to the 2013 World Cup in Ski flying in Vikersund suggest that long-term volunteering can be understood in terms of (i) a high level of social integration (socialization, institutionalization); (ii) the creation of a collective identity focused around the ski flying hill; and (iii) the maintenance and reinforcement of strong community identity and social solidarity by local resistance to the perceived hostility of outside organizations. This focus on the broader community/social processes has implications for researchers examining sport event volunteers as well as managers of recurring sport events wishing to retain volunteers.

Mega-event volunteers, similar or different? Vancouver 2010 vs London 2012

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to compare motivations of volunteers at two mega multi-sport events.Design/methodology/approach– The research used a quantitative research design to survey volunteers at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (n=2,066) and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (n=11,451) via an online questionnaire based upon the Special Event Volunteer Motivation Scale.Findings– The results indicate that the volunteers, most of whom had previously volunteered, were motivated by similar variables, including the uniqueness of the event, the desire to make it a success and to give back to their community. The results of the principal components analysis indicated that most items of the scale loaded onto similar components across the two research contexts.Research limitations/implications– There were methodological limitations in terms of the timing of the questionnaire administration and Likert scales used, however, these issues were controlled by gatekeepers. These limitations could have research implication for comparative studies of volunteers at mega events.Practical implications– Understanding volunteer motivations will enable event managers and volunteer managers to plan for legacy.Social implications– Volunteer motivations include wanting to give back to their community and therefore, increases the potential for volunteer legacy.Originality/value– This is the first research that: enables comparison of winter and summer Olympic and Paralympic Games volunteers; has substantial sample sizes in relation to the variables; applies higher item loadings to strengthen the analysis; and involves the use of the same instrument across events.

Why do event volunteers return? Theory of planned behavior

Sports events are important fundraisers for many nonprofit organizations, with the 10 largest events in the U.S. having generated more than $1.2 billion in 2011. The success of these events in part depends on volunteer participation and retention as they involve a large number of volunteers. In particular, returned volunteers can assist first-time volunteers and even participate in training of new volunteers, helping ease the staff’s workload. Nevertheless, the existing literature does not provide a theoretical framework through which event volunteers’ retention motivations could be understood. This study tests if the theory of planned behavior (TPB) can explain event volunteers’ retention, using a sample of volunteers in an annual sports event. The findings from the structural equation model suggest that the TPB is a useful tool for understanding event volunteers’ retention and that event volunteering is a type of leisure activity. The analysis also indicates that the perceived behavioral control is the strongest predictor of event volunteers’ intention to return.

Motives for Event Volunteering

This research addressed volunteering in the context of an international sports event. The functional approach assumes that matching volunteers’ motives and environmental affordances predicts favorable outcomes. We tested this assumption with respect to event volunteering and proposed two additional motivational functions that may be served by event volunteering: good citizenship and excitement. The results show that the total match index (TMI) proposed by Stukas, Worth, Clary, and Snyder accounted for additional variance in satisfaction and the intent to volunteer again, above and beyond the variance explained by motives and affordances alone. Furthermore, beyond the TMI, matching the excitement motive accounted for additional variance in outcomes. The conceptual innovation of excitement as an intrinsic volunteer motive was supported by a theoretically consistent moderator effect: The association between autonomy and volunteer outcomes was stronger for volunteers with a high excitement motive. Theoretical and practical implications regarding the design of volunteer jobs are discussed.

스포츠이벤트 자원봉사자의 자원봉사 관여도 만족도, 충실도의 관계

스포츠이벤트 자원봉사자의 자원봉사 관여도 만족도, 충실도의 관계

Managing Student Volunteers for Mega Events: Motivation and Psychological Contract as Predictors of Sustained Volunteerism

Tourism destinations often leverage special events to promote tourism. However, special event organizers are confronted with the challenge of effectively managing volunteers to achieve high satisfaction and sustained volunteerism (SV). This study analyzes the relationships between volunteer motives, psychological contract (PC), satisfaction, and behavioral intention. It accomplishes this aim by examining student volunteers' satisfaction with the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and testing a conceptual model of SV using motivation and PC as predictors. Based on a sample of 579 college student volunteers in Shanghai, this study simultaneously investigates the antecedents of student satisfaction with the World Expo and their behavioral intention to volunteer for other special events. Practical implications and future research directions of event volunteerism management are fully discussed.