Skip to main content

What are you looking for?

Enter keywords to search across resources, guides, training, tools, and more.

Create an account for suggestions personalised to you and your organisation
Create account
Research and Reports
1 minute read

Meeting volunteer expectations — a review of volunteer motivations in citizen science and best practices for their retention through implementation of functional features in CS tools

Meeting National Standards and Strategy Seal Meeting National Standards and Strategy What's this?

Introduction

This document provides a comprehensive guide on the effective management and implementation of citizen science projects. It underscores the significance of clear project goals, volunteer recruitment, sustainability, and the pivotal role of citizens in these initiatives.

Enhancing Volunteer Engagement

For volunteer organisations and management practitioners, the document offers valuable insights into aligning volunteer interests with project needs, ensuring meaningful participation, and fostering long-term commitment. It stresses the importance of understanding volunteer motivations, providing appropriate training, feedback, and recognition, and leveraging technology to enhance participation and scientific output.

Contributing to Global Goals

Moreover, the document highlights how citizen science projects contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by involving citizens in environmental monitoring and other scientific research. This not only aids in addressing global challenges but also empowers individuals with STEM knowledge and skills.

Summary

For organisations involved in volunteer management, this document serves as a crucial resource. It offers strategies for retaining volunteers by meeting their expectations, creating a sense of community, and ensuring projects are fun, rewarding, and aligned with their interests. By adopting the recommended approaches, organisations can maximise volunteer contributions, enhance scientific productivity, and make a significant impact on environmental and global issues.

Johanna Amalia Robinson, David Kocman, Orestis Speyer & Evangelos Gerasopoulos (2021) Meeting volunteer expectations — a review of volunteer motivations in citizen science and best practices for their retention through implementation of functional features in CS tools, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 64:12, 2089-2113, DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2020.1853507

Downloads and sources

Visit source

More about the authors

Contribute to the Gateway

Leave feedback

Was this resource useful?

More like this

Role Descriptions

Writing a Role Description

A guide on how to write a volunteer role description.
1 minute read
Volunteering Australia
General
Information

Background checks

This resource offers detailed guidance on various screening checks, including Working with Children Checks, Police Checks, NDIS Worker Screening Checks, and other types of checks. It also provides information on child safety laws.
1 minute read
Not-For-Profit Law
General
Rosterfy
Tech

Rosterfy

Rosterfy is an end-to-end volunteer management software solution, that helps organisations streamline their volunteer management and engagement. Rosterfy offers automated solutions to manage volunteers efficiently.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management
Volaby
Tech

Volaby

Volaby is an end-to-end volunteer and people management platform, enabling organisations to do more with less! Built from the collective voice of our volunteer managers using the platform, Volaby helps you automate and simplify the volunteer and manager experience to save time and scale impact.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Event management
Be Collective
Tech

Be Collective

A volunteer management & community engagement platform. Be Collective is all about empowering volunteering and the organisations supporting volunteering to build stronger, more sustainable networks for doing good.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management Donations
scheduled

Managing Challenging Conversations with Volunteers

This session provides a chance to share, discuss and explore different approaches to challenging conversations with volunteers, volunteers managers/staff and community. Leave with tools and practical steps/ideas to plan, facilitate and support challenging conversations.
Volunteering SA&NT
–
Free
scheduled

Exiting and Transitioning Volunteers 'It's not always as simple as it seems'

This workshop will explore the different reasons and circumstances that may lead to a volunteer transitioning out of their role. Work through different scenarios to build your understanding of this space and leave with practical tools, resources and a plan for managing this moving forwards.
Volunteering SA&NT
–
Free