Explaining volunteering behavior within a social-cognitive model of motivation framework

Academic Year Undergraduate Research Initiative (AYURI) Title: Explaining volunteering behavior within a social-cognitive model of motivation framework Faculty: Corinne Novell, Steven Bauer, Alice Labban Student: Kayee (Jenny) Kwok Abstract: Nonprofit organizations face major difficulties when it comes to retaining volunteer participants even though volunteers give valuable support to their missions. The research evaluates what makes volunteers retain their commitment using mindsets as a key variable set. A belief system about trait development known as the growth mindset, according to Dweck and Leggett’s (1988) Social-Cognitive Model of Motivation, produces positive effects on the intentions of future volunteering. Our research demonstrates that learning goal orientation works as a mediator between these variables since volunteers choose to develop their skills instead of seeking approval from others. A study of 154 Cedars-Sinai Medical Center volunteers used standardized psychological scales for testing the proposed hypotheses utilizing survey methodology. The research data confirmed a growth mindset as a significant predictor of increased volunteering intentions (β = .15, p < .05) along with its positive relationship to learning goal orientation (β = .13, p < .05). The influence of learning goal orientation demonstrated a strong connection to volunteer retention intentions (β = .56, p < .001), while its effect acted as a full mediator between mindset and retention choices. The study confirmed that the Social-Cognitive Model of Motivation is a good way to look at volunteer behavior. It also showed that giving volunteers a growth mindset in programs that focus on learning makes them more likely to stay with the program. Nonprofit organizations should deploy strategic communication about personal skills growth in volunteering along with education-oriented programs like mentorship and training to encourage volunteer participant retention. Research expansion should investigate how this model contributes to volunteer recruitment and retention efforts throughout multiple organizational settings.