Communication and motivation within the superiorsubordinate dyad: Testing the conventional wisdom of volunteer management Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • This study examined three prevalent forms of conventional wisdom by comparing volunteers and paid employees in the following areas: (1) intrinsic motivation, (2) perceptions of supervisors decision-making style, and (3) perceived compliance-gaining communication of supervisors. Subjects (190 paid and 118 volunteer) from eight different organizations provided information regarding these areas via questionnaires distributed through their respective organizations. Results revealed that volunteers were higher in intrinsic motivation than paid employees. Supervisors of volunteers used more participative decision-making than supervisors of paid employees. Further, volunteers were more satisfied with their supervisors 9 decision-making than were paid employees. Additionally, significant effects regarding compliance-gaining behavior emerged as strategies emphasizing the worth of the individual, and of the work itself, were used more frequently with volunteers. However, few differences emerged between volunteers and paid employees regarding the motivational properties of the compliance-gaining strategies used by their supervisors. 1988, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • Journal of Applied Communication Research

author list (cited authors)

  • Adams, C. H., Schlueter, D. W., & Barge, J. K.

citation count

  • 11

complete list of authors

  • Adams, Carey H||Schlueter, David W||Barge, J Kevin

publication date

  • January 1988