Exploring the Motivations and Constraints on Volunteerism from a Preparatory Behavior Perspective Across Two Natural Resource Management Organizations

Abstract

Many government natural resource management agencies depend on volunteers and, as a result, put a great deal of time and effort into recruiting and retaining them. Of the studies that have examined volunteers’ motivations and constraints, the focus has been on understanding what motivates and constrains volunteerism from an end-state behavior perspective, which is the final, or end, behavior that produces desired outcomes in the field. In the context of this research, the desired end-state behavior is the act of doing the volunteering for projects that protect natural resources and the environment. Researchers have not yet explored the concept and operation of preparatory behaviors that may facilitate desired end-state behaviors, and how motivations and constraints for such behaviors may be influencing behavioral outcomes. Preparatory behavior is behavior that precedes and facilitates engagement in a desired or target end-state behavior.I applied a qualitative methodology that included focus group interviews and an open-ended conversational format. This allowed interviewees to self-identify their preparatory behaviors, and what motivates and constrains them, in their own words and from their unique perspectives rather than respond to a set of pre-defined, closed-ended questions based on a priori researcher presumptions and literature about the phenomenon that may be incorrect or incomplete (e.g. Visser et al., 2000). A series of eleven focus group interviews were conducted involving 72 interviewees. The sample of interviewees was purposefully selected to include a wide range of volunteering experience from none to many years of participation and was also selected to include two different Washington State natural resource management volunteer programs: Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The range of preparatory behaviors identified from this research includes cognitions, physical actions, and social interactions. Preparatory cognitions involve decision making, knowledge gaining, and planning; physical activities include gathering and organizing equipment and supplies, and getting physically prepared (e.g., getting enough sleep); and social interactions to gain psychological and material support towards their volunteerism. The full range of preparations appeared to be similar across both DNR and DFW focus groups. A range of motivations for engaging in preparations were identified. These include motivations unique and separate from those that motivate volunteerism more generally. For example, having the desire for a positive emotional experience when doing preparations, being able to live up to one’s personal obligation outside of volunteering, and the need to take care of one’s comfort and well-being by getting enough rest and nutrition. These are all sources of motivations for doing preparations that may also facilitate successful engagement in end-state behavior. Overall, with a few exceptions, the range of motivations for preparations and end-state volunteerism were similar between DNR and DFW, including those differences identified between end-state and preparations. Accordingly, when it comes to designing strategies to recruit and retain volunteers, in similar contexts, it may be important to know what motivates these preparatory behaviors that facilitate volunteerism. Besides motivations, a range of behavioral constraints on people’s preparations were also identified, including personal resource costs, negative feelings and emotions, and normative conflicts and expectations for the self and others. Protecting the self was a theme elaborated on by interviewees. Perceptions of personal discomfort in the form of disruptions in daily routines, physical discomfort, threats to safety and well-being, and perceived threats to self-esteem were themes that emerged. As with motivations, the range of constraints for preparations and end-state volunteerism were similar between DNR and DFW, including those differences identified between end-state and preparations with a few nuanced exceptions. Evidence from this research suggests that it is important and useful for volunteer organizations trying to recruit and retain volunteers to understand what people do as part of their preparations, and what might serve as constraints and motivations for engaging in them. With this deeper insight, beyond an end-state behavior perspective, natural resource volunteer programs may be able to improve the effectiveness or impact of their volunteer recruitment and retention strategies, including strategies that are developed within a social marketing framework. By introducing preparatory behaviors and their related motivations and constraints into the social marketing model, it may be possible to increase the effectiveness of behavior change strategies, for example, to better recruit and retain volunteers. Accordingly, I present a novel approach to the community-based social marketing model (CBSM) (McKenzie-Mohr, 2011) by extending the model to include motivations and constraints for preparatory behavior. I use the set of behavior change principles prescribed in the CBSM model along with other relevant principles of influence (e.g. Cialdini, 2007) and match them with the various forms of motivations and constraints that emerged from the focus group interviews. I then discuss the implications and make recommendations for designing social marketing strategies that could increase the effectiveness of efforts to recruit and retain volunteers willing to perform strenuous physical labor, and, as a result, may improve the efficiency of natural resource volunteer programs in terms of real world on-the-ground outcomes.