Mixed Metods Examination of the Motivations of 4-h Volunteer Leaders and Extension Educators

Abstract

This study used mixed methods to identify and describe the motivations of 4-H volunteer leaders and Extension educators who attended the Oklahoma 4-H Northeast district family and volunteer meeting. This study included adult 4-H volunteer leaders and Extension educators who were in attendance at the meeting on May 5, 2012. 4-H volunteer leaders and Extension educators were given the Motivation Sources Inventory, an open-ended questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire to complete. Twenty-two of 24 volunteer leaders completed the instrument. All 10 of the Extension educators completed the instrument. The Motivation Sources Inventory and demographics questionnaire were analyzed using means and standard deviations. In addition, the Motivation Sources Inventory was analyzed using an independent-samples t-test. The open-ended questionnaire were coded and analyzed for themes. The study found that the source of motivation that accounted for the highest percentage for both 4-H volunteer leaders and Extension educators was Self-Concept Internal. Goal Internalization accounted for the second highest source of motivation. When the results of the Motivation Sources Inventory were compared using an independent samples t-test, no significant difference was found. The open-ended questionnaire provided seven themes. Four themes: Lean & Grows, Tradition of 4-H, Family Involvement, and New to 4-H, were common for both the volunteer leaders and the Extension educators. Volunteerism Commitment was described in just the volunteer leaders. Affiliation with 4-H and Passion for Extension & Others were described only by the Extension educators. There was no significant difference between the sources of motivation of 4-H volunteer leaders and Extension educators. The themes found many similarities between the two groups as well. The themes of Lean & Grow, Volunteerism Commitment, and Passion for Extension and Others aligned with Self-Concept Internal motivation. Tradition of 4-H, Family Involvement, and New to 4-H aligned with Goal Internalization motivation. Affiliation of volunteers aligned with Instrumental and Self-Concept External motivation.