Between two volunteer cultures: Social composition and motivation among volunteers at the 2010 test event for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

Abstract

This paper argues that a reflexive, late modern volunteer culture coexists with a collectivist, traditional one at major sporting events. Those who regularly volunteer at such events and are affiliated with organized sport tend to be older and male, and have higher incomes. Those who are volunteering for the first time and are unaffiliated with organized sport resemble reflexive volunteers to a greater extent: they tend to be younger and female, and their incomes are lower than those of regular sports volunteers. A factor analysis identified sports interest, social motives and qualification/work-related motives as three motivational dimensions for volunteering at sporting events. The first two intrinsic dimensions were more important to event regulars and those affiliated with organized sports. Building qualifications and work-related experience were more important motives for first-timers and unaffiliated volunteers, indicating that these volunteers view event volunteering as an appropriate way of investing in social and human capital. The data come from an Internet-based survey (n=800, response rate 77) conducted prior to the 2010 test event for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo, Norway.

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

“…Despite this problem, there appears to be little RUNNING HEAD: «We can do it»: Long-term volunteering in sport 8 academic literature on long-term volunteers, and we want to fill this void. In contrast to research showing a trend in volunteering away from traditional volunteerism towards a more individualized form of volunteerism (e.g., Hustinx & Lammertyn, 2004;Wollebaek et al, 2012), this case seems to indicate that there are communities where traditional volunteerism is still found. Perhaps our observations in Vikersund describe what Hustinx and Meijs (2011) call the re-embedding of volunteers, a process which goes beyond individual motivation to wider community processes and which may, at least partially, counter the individualizing processes in society.…”

“…Much previous sport event research has used quantitative methods, often involving large samples (Farrell et al, 1998;Skirstad & Hanstad, 2013;Wollebaek et al, 2012).…”

“…In much the same way, the problem of why some individuals volunteer while others do not, which has been the focus of much research on volunteering and which has usually focused around questions related to individual motivation (Allen & Shaw, 2009;Downward et al, 2005;Farrell et al, 1998;Love et al, 2011;Skirstad & Hanstad, 2013;Strigas & Jackson, 2003;Williams et al, 1995;Wollebaek et al, 2012), is a very different question from the question which stands out as requiring explanation in the unusual case of Vikersund:…”

“…Conventional approaches to understanding volunteering have usually centered around identifying psychological processes which can be loosely summed up under the heading of motivation, with studies typically seeking to identify motives for volunteering and the personal rewards/satisfactions which volunteers gain from volunteering (Allen & Shaw, 2009;Downward, Lumsdon, & Ralston, 2005;Farrell, Johnston, & Twynam, 1998;Love, Hardin, & Koo, 2011;Skirstad & Hanstad, 2013;Strigas & Jackson, 2003;Williams, Dossa, & Tompkins, 1995;Wollebaek, Skirstad, & Hanstad, 2012). Such an approach is not unproblematic for it has often been argued that 'motivation' is an overused and vague term (Roberts, 2012).…”

“…Coyne & Coyne, 2001;Doherty, 2009;Mac Lean & Hamm, 2007;Downward & Ralston, 2006;Skirstad & Hanstad, 2013;Wollebaek et al, 2012), but since we wanted to examine longterm volunteering in greater depth, we used a qualitative approach in this exploratory case study. The first two researchers made observations and conducted interviews before and during the event.…”