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There are several motivating and satisfying factors that affect volunteer retention. Organizations need to know what these factors are in order to make the volunteer’s role more satisfying and therefore improve rates of retention. The purpose of this phenomenological case study was to explore the motivation factors for volunteers in an art museum setting, in particular the individual motivations for remaining at an organization for a period of time not less than one year, using Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory (Herzberg, Mausner, and Snyderman, 1959). The research includes an extensive literature review examining motivation theories, factors of retention and volunteering, and aspects of phenomenology. The population of this study consisted of 28 volunteers in one art museum, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Montgomery, Alabama. The museum represented an organization with an established and successful volunteer program. The participants were adults who were free-choice volunteers, or volunteers who were not required to provide service for any other reason other than their own choice. Data were collected through an online survey and in-person interviews. A statistical test with a chi-square was used to determine the relationship between volunteer retention and factors of motivation. The following factors were found to be significant in volunteer satisfaction and motivation: engagement and enrichment opportunities, a personal sense of doing something worthwhile, and enjoyment of the work itself. Of those factors, it was found that engagement and enrichment opportunities had the highest impact on volunteer retention. It was concluded that (1) there are several motivation factors for volunteers; (2) there is one motivation factor that also has a significant relationship with volunteer retention; and (3) volunteer motivation factors can also serve as factors for dissatisfaction and negatively impact retention.
Advisor: | Villeneuve, Pat |
Commitee: | Rutledge, Stacey, Broome, Jeff, Rowson Love, Ann |
School: | The Florida State University |
Department: | Art Education |
School Location: | United States -- Florida |
Source: | DAI-A 81/1(E), Dissertation Abstracts International |
Source Type: | DISSERTATION |
Subjects: | Museum studies, Arts Management, Management |
Keywords: | Administration, Art, Motivation, Museum, Retention, Volunteer |
Publication Number: | 13426301 |
ISBN: | 9781085564113 |