Abstract
Although today’s nonprofit organizations make a strong appeal to volunteers, they often have difficulties with attracting
and retaining these free labor forces. In this sense, studying the motivation of volunteers and its effects proves useful.
In the present article, we investigate the relationship between volunteers’ motivation and their self-reported work effort,
while relying on the Self-Determination Theory. The results indicate a positive link between volunteers’ autonomous motivation
and work effort. Moreover, this relationship holds for each person in our sample, irrespective of the organization in which
she/he is volunteering. Implications for future research, as well as the practical impact of these findings, are discussed.
and retaining these free labor forces. In this sense, studying the motivation of volunteers and its effects proves useful.
In the present article, we investigate the relationship between volunteers’ motivation and their self-reported work effort,
while relying on the Self-Determination Theory. The results indicate a positive link between volunteers’ autonomous motivation
and work effort. Moreover, this relationship holds for each person in our sample, irrespective of the organization in which
she/he is volunteering. Implications for future research, as well as the practical impact of these findings, are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-16
- DOI 10.1007/s11266-012-9269-x
- Authors
- J. Bidee, Work & Organizational Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- T. Vantilborgh, Work & Organizational Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- R. Pepermans, Work & Organizational Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- G. Huybrechts, Micro-economics for Profit and Non Profit Sector, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- J. Willems, Micro-economics for Profit and Non Profit Sector, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- M. Jegers, Micro-economics for Profit and Non Profit Sector, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- J. Hofmans, Work & Organizational Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Journal Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
- Online ISSN 1573-7888
- Print ISSN 0957-8765