Volunteer Motivation Scale/Questionnaire/Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) – Chinese Version

Description

The “China Youth Volunteer Registration Management Measures” defines a volunteer as a person who provides services and help to society and others voluntarily, based on conscience, belief, and responsibility, without seeking material rewards. Research on volunteer motivation has been conducted from multiple perspectives, including psychological, sociological, and integrative viewpoints. Early researchers classified volunteer motivations into two categories: altruistic and self-serving motivations. Subsequently, Cnaan and others conducted factor analysis on 28 factors related to volunteer behavior, discovering that most could be grouped into a single dimension—experience of rewards.

In 1998, Gil Clary and colleagues utilized functional analysis to study volunteer motivation. They proposed and validated six motivational types for volunteer behavior through the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI): value expression type, understanding type, social type, career type, protective type, and enhancement type. Personality traits have also been linked to volunteer behavior, with researchers like Carlo finding that agreeableness and extraversion can influence volunteer activities through individuals’ prosocial motivations, with extraversion showing a more significant effect.

From a sociological perspective, researchers have examined factors such as gender, age, occupation, education level, and social resources. Wilson reviewed literature on gender, age, and occupation, finding varying distributions: for instance, in North America, female volunteers are more prevalent, while in Europe, males dominate. Wilson and Musick synthesized various sociological factors to propose a model predicting volunteer behavior using demographic variables and levels of capital. Empirical studies indicated that formal volunteer activities positively correlate with personal capital, number of children, social interactions, and religion, whereas informal volunteer activities (e.g., helping neighbors) were mainly determined by gender, age, and health status.

In 2010, Kirsten Holmes and Karen Smith published “Managing Volunteers in Tourism,” providing a comprehensive overview of tourism volunteers, describing the concept of tourism volunteer services and their various forms. They identified what constitutes tourism volunteer services, the impacts of such services, and how to design related projects and training for volunteers while presenting successful global case studies of tourism volunteer services.

Domestic research on volunteer motivation was limited in the earlier years but saw significant growth in the past five years. Since 2013, there has been a notable increase in studies on volunteer motivations. A search for “志愿者 动机” (volunteer motivation) in CNKI yielded 101 relevant papers in 2013, with annual publications since remaining between 80 and 100. Major research areas focused on the motivations of youth and tourism volunteers. Han Mengyao (2015) analyzed the service motivations and incentive systems for tourism volunteers from a management perspective, categorizing motivations into four types: experiential, developmental, achievement-oriented, and utilitarian. Yang Hongling et al. (2014) studied the motivations and barriers to participation in volunteer activities, identifying several motivations such as self-interest, personal development, altruism, spiritual pursuit, and environmental factors. Barriers included psychological concerns, organizational deficiencies, misalignment of volunteer spirit, social environments, and objective conditions. Chen Wanwen et al. (2016) investigated volunteer motivations in Guangzhou, concluding that motivations exhibit both altruistic and self-serving traits, emphasizing the need for promoting the correct values of volunteerism to attract more participants.

Jude Donghong et al. (2016) analyzed motivations and behaviors of volunteers in community services, identifying motives including social responsibility, spiritual satisfaction, interpersonal interaction, blind conformity, and personal interests. Factors such as gender, age, income, marital status, and family support influenced volunteer participation. Suggestions for guiding volunteers included promoting noble concepts of volunteer service, utilizing reasonable mechanisms for motivation, and creating diverse scientific volunteer projects. Song Ting et al. (2017) surveyed 343 senior volunteers in Anhui, finding their motivations ranked from highest to lowest as value expression, self-enhancement, understanding, career development, protective, and social interaction. The study concluded that the overall motivation level among senior volunteers was low and emphasized the need for objective assessment and strengthening backbone volunteer recruitment.

Wu Wenqi studied the motivations of university student volunteers in large sporting events, noting that their motivations were multifaceted. Based on student characteristics, motivations were categorized as needs for personal growth, skill acquisition, and social interaction. In empirical research, Wu Lупипинг conducted in-depth interviews with volunteers and suggested differentiating motivations into traditional, modern, and postmodern categories based on their core concepts.

Authors and Contact Email

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Purpose

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Test Year

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Administration Method and Scoring

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Reliability and Validity

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Factors and Subscales

– **Dimensions**: 功能动机 (Functional Motivation)

Keywords

volunteers, motivations, altruism, self-interest, tourism volunteering, community service

Items in Chinese

1. 志愿者工作可以有利于我尝试或进入那些我喜欢从事的行业。
2. 我的朋友们做志愿者。
3. 我对那些比自己不幸的人表示关注。
4. 我亲近的人希望我去做志愿者。
5. 志愿者工作让我觉得自己重要。
6. 我的熟人向我分享过参加社区服务的乐趣。
7. 无论我一直感觉多么糟糕，从事志愿者工作能帮我忘记它。
8. 我真诚地关心我所服务的特定群体。
9. 通过志愿者工作我感到不那么孤独。
10. 我可以结交新的朋友，可能会帮助我的事业或工作。
11. 做志愿者工作减轻我潜意识中感觉比一些人幸运的内疚感。
12. 对工作的真正含义有更深的理解和感受。
13. 志愿工作增加我的自尊。
14. 志愿工作可以让我感受到一些事物的新的观点和想法。
15. 志愿工作我可以探索不同的职业选择。
16. 我确实对那些需要帮助的人感到同情。
17. 我的另一些熟人对社区公益服务有更高的评价。
18. 志愿服务让我通过直接参与、实践的经验来学习事物。
19. 我觉得帮助别人是非常重要的。
20. 从事志愿者工作帮助我依靠自己的个人能力处理事情。
21. 志愿工作将帮助我，在我选择的职业中取得成功。
22. 我会因为一个对我有重要意义的原因去做一些事。
23. 志愿工作对我那些所认识的最优秀的人来说是个重要行为。
24. 志愿工作可以让我逃避那些自己的烦恼。
25. 我可以学会如何面对各种各样的人。
26. 志愿者工作让我感到被需要。
27. 志愿服务使我对自己感觉更好。
28. 志愿工作经验会让我的简历更好看。
29. 志愿工作是结交新朋友的方式。
30. 我可以探索我自己的强项。

Items in English

1. Volunteer work allows me to try or enter industries I like to work in.
2. Some of my friends are volunteers.
3. I care about those who are less fortunate than myself.
4. My close contacts want me to be a volunteer.
5. Volunteer work makes me feel important.
6. My acquaintances have shared the joys of community service with me.
7. No matter how bad I feel, doing volunteer work helps me forget it.
8. I genuinely care about the specific group I serve.
9. I feel less lonely through volunteer work.
10. I can make new friends that may help my career or work.
11. Volunteering alleviates my subconscious guilt about feeling luckier than some people.
12. I have a deeper understanding and feeling of the true meaning of work.
13. Volunteer work increases my self-esteem.
14. Volunteer work allows me to feel new perspectives and ideas.
15. Volunteer work gives me the opportunity to explore different career choices.
16. I truly feel sympathy for those in need of help.
17. Some of my acquaintances hold higher evaluations of community service.
18. Volunteer activities help me learn through direct participation and practice.
19. I feel it is very important to help others.
20. Engaging in volunteer work helps me rely on my personal abilities to handle things.
21. Volunteer work will help me succeed in the career I am or will be pursuing.
22. I do something for a cause that is important to me.
23. Among the best people I know, volunteering is a significant act.
24. Volunteer work allows me to escape my worries.
25. I can learn to deal with a variety of people.
26. Volunteer work makes me feel needed.
27. Volunteer activities help me feel better about myself.
28. My volunteer experience enhances my resume.
29. Volunteer work is a way to make new friends.
30. I can discover my strengths.

References

1. Wilson, J., & Musick, M. (information not available)
2. Clary, G., et al. (1998). “Volunteer Functions Inventory.” (information not available)
3. 韩孟尧 (2015) (information not available)
4. 杨宏玲等 (2014) (information not available)
5. 陈婉雯等 (2016) (information not available)
6. 巨东红等 (2016) (information not available)
7. 宋婷等 (2017) (information not available)
8. 吴文琪 (information not available)
9. 吴鲁平 (information not available)
10. Holmes, K., & Smith, K. (2010). “Managing Volunteers in Tourism.” (information not available)