title: Volunteer motivations at a National Special Olympics event.
abstract: Understanding the motivations for people to volunteer with the management and execution of major sporting events is important for the recruitment and retention of the volunteers. This research investigated volunteer motivations at the first National Special Olympics held in Ames, Iowa, USA in July 2006. A total of 289 participants completed the 28 item Special Event Volunteer Motivation Scale. The top motivations related to the purposive incentives of wanting to help make the event a success and to do something good for the community. Factor analysis revealed a five-factor model, with the altruistic factor (purposive) being the most important. A MANCOVA was also used to compare subjects using both gender and experience as independent variables. Small but significant differences in motivation were observed.
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Selina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: Rich
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Engelhorn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000533:Altruism; D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000379:methods*; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014838:Volunteers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult