Volunteering Services in Taiwan: A Study from Social Exchange Perspective

• Main Authors: Wenpin Su, 蘇文彬
• Other Authors: Chun-an Chien
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/96570448205420924933

博士 === 東海大學 === 社會工作學系 === 98 === Abstract Most people consider, volunteering to be an aid providing and altruistic action derived from “altruism”, which is a behavior worthy of affirmation and encouragement, and the public also gives volunteers the positive images of passionately helping others, selfless dedication, and respect. However, the researcher has discovered that volunteers are not completely based on the “altruistic” motive from practical experience of participating in volunteering and in use of volunteers. There are certainly selfless dedicating volunteers in different volunteering organizations, however, there are also self-regard volunteers, who focus on “what I can get” more than “what I can give” in their services. In view of this, the “social exchange theories” are used as the study perspective to explore the implied exchange definition and purpose from the interaction between the volunteers and organizations. The study is processed using the qualitative research method, and the two items of the purposeful sampling are used as the sampling reference. It mainly applies “maximum sampling”- which tries to interview various respondents in a limited sample, and is coupled with “snowball or chain sampling” – which looks for new respondents through the organization or the introduction of volunteers in the interview process. The study has interviewed 18 volunteers. The researcher tries to classify the volunteer participation exchange type. The “initial exchange” includes: mission embraced, social relationship, self-efficacy, and fate, etc. motives, and the study found that the exchange content is not in a single dimension. The exchange process has its turning point, which can be categorized in the following types: helping others and benefiting oneself, enriching experience, social support, diligent participation, enhancing a mission, deep reflection, and life story, etc. The concept of “dynamic exchange” is proposed according to the study findings, which refers to the participation process of volunteers, is dynamic, and full of changes. In the participating process of volunteers, they will experience different units, people, and affairs, and their internal minds and demands can also change at any time, and cause internal and external interactions. The study further applied the “laundry ball model” to discuss dynamic exchange. The volunteer participation situation is just like the washer, and the volunteer himself/herself is just like a laundry ball; the laundry will impact with different clothes, and further create a variety of changing rolls. In these interactions, volunteers will exchange some “motivation factors” (praise, affirmation, support, etc.) that promote further participation, but they may exchange “inhibiting factors” (such as encountering setbacks, being unhealthy, family not providing support, etc.) that stop further participation. The “exchange account” of volunteers is the sum of participation “motivation” (positive) or “inhibiting” (negative) factors. However, the ratio between the factors are not the same, volunteers will go through “meaningful” process to “give value” to each factor. Due to the individual difference of volunteers, they will also attach different importance to various factors, and give different weights to various factors. When the “exchange account” is often positive, then the participation behavior of volunteers will be more sustainable; on the contrary, if it is negative, with the rational consideration of social exchange, volunteers will very possibly “stop” and no longer participate. According to the argument established by the study, to apply it in the management practices, and promote volunteers to sustain participation, the study recommendations are as follows: 1. Guide the volunteers with positive attribution: Assist volunteers to have positive thoughts and attribution of their participation experience. 2. Meaningful: Focus on the process of why volunteers participate in the service, and process inner self conversation, convince oneself to form a concept, and then further make the move; it is a key process. 3. Create the feeling of “success”: Allow the participation of volunteers to be tortuous. Smooth participation will deplete the passion of volunteers; however, an experience full of setbacks will also make it difficult for volunteers to continue. Therefore, “balance” needs to be created to allow volunteers to have the joy and achievement of success. 4. Satisfy the “sense of being needed” of volunteers: Seeing one self’s value is the motivation to continue the participation. 5. Provide the stage for volunteers to create value: Enhance volunteers’ various tangible and intangible values through various methods to create a rational exchange niche. Key Word: volunteering, volunteer, altruism, dynamic exchange, exchange account