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A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY TO IDENTIFY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERS IN A YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATION
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of individuals who have consistently volunteered their services to a youth-serving organization over an extended period of time. It was anticipated that identification of common characteristics of long-term volunteers would help determine the potential volunteers in the population likely to remain with the organization over a prolonged length of time. An information sheet requesting demographic information and permission to interview was mailed to 71 individuals who were identified as having volunteered for the Nishnabotna Girl Scout Council in southwest Iowa for five years or longer. From the 54 sheets that were returned, 20 people were randomly selected to participate in individual indepth interviews. The 20 long-term volunteers selected the time and location for their interviews. The generated data were recorded in written form and by tape, as an aid to memory and to assure accuracy. Several characteristics emerged from the information sheets and the interviews that appeared to be common to the long-term volunteers. It was found that individuals were more educated than the general population. They were married and ranged in age between 25 and 65 with the majority clustered in the 25-44 age range. Forty-five percent were homemakers only and 55 percent were employed outside the home, 30 percent of these on a part-time basis. They were longtime residents of their communities. Several themes which emerged during the interviews were categorized in two major areas: environmental characteristics and personal characteristics. The environmental characteristics were: affiliation to a youth-serving organization during one's formative years; a family tradition of volunteering; the influence of religion; available time to volunteer; and stability in lifestyle. The personal characteristics were: a personal philosophy of caring; lifelong learning; self-confidence; a positive attitude; the ability to make friends; and an achievement orientation. The combination of environmental and personal characteristics seemed to culminate in a final characteristic--a belief in the Girl Scout program.
Subject Area
Educational sociology
Recommended Citation
HELBLING, ELIZABETH ANNE, "A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY TO IDENTIFY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERS IN A YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATION" (1986). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8624593.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8624593