Journal article
Matching expectations for successful university student volunteering
Education + Training, Vol.59(2), pp.122-134
2017
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of expectation formation and matching for university student volunteers and their hosts.
Design/methodology/approach
This research involved a multi-stage data collection process including interviews with student volunteers, and university and host representatives from six Australian universities. The project team undertook an iterative process of coding and interpretation to identify themes and develop understanding of the phenomenon.
Findings
University student volunteering has the potential to fail to meet the expectations of at least one of the parties to the relationship when the expectations of the parties are not clearly articulated. Universities operating volunteer programmes have an important role in facilitating expectation formation and matching, minimising the chances of mismatched expectations.
Research limitations/implications
The study confirms the operation of a psychological contract for university student volunteers and organisations who host them which is consistent with other research in volunteering demonstrating the importance of matching expectations.
Practical implications
The paper identifies the importance of expectation formation and matching for hosts and students, and highlights the role of universities in facilitating matchmaking.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the growing body of research on the role of the psychological contract in volunteering, in particular in university student volunteering and host organisations.
Details
- Title
- Matching expectations for successful university student volunteering
- Authors/Creators
- M. Paull (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityM. Omari (Author/Creator) - Edith Cowan UniversityJ. MacCallum (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityS. Young (Author/Creator) - School of Population and Global HealthG. Walker (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityK. Holmes (Author/Creator) - Curtin UniversityD. Haski-Leventhal (Author/Creator) - Macquarie UniversityR. Scott (Author/Creator) - Melbourne Institute of Technology
- Publication Details
- Education + Training, Vol.59(2), pp.122-134
- Publisher
- Emerald Group Publishing Limited
- Identifiers
- 991005543971207891
- Copyright
- © Copyright 2017 Emerald Publishing Limited
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Education; School of Business and Governance
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
Metrics
106 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 6 Social Sciences
- 6.27 Political Science
- 6.27.1611 Volunteering
- Web Of Science research areas
- Education & Educational Research
- ESI research areas
- Social Sciences, general