Thesis
What we do together : exploring volunteering using the concept of associational life
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2024
- Thesis identifier
- T17090
- Person Identifier (Local)
- 201994956
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- This thesis develops knowledge about volunteering as an associational activity and how it is different from other types of associational life. Associational life refers to the activities that people do together with others, including volunteering. In an increasingly individualised society, this thesis argues that volunteering cannot be studied in isolation, as the motivation to volunteer is part of a wider narrative. As such, volunteering practices need to be studied in relation to other associational activities that individuals take part in, like sports, civil society, and hobbies. The thesis takes a holistic, comprehensive approach to associational life to understand the extent to which volunteering differs from other associational activities in contemporary society. The thesis used relational sociology as its central theoretical framework to explore volunteering as a form of associational life, also drawing on concepts of social capital and habitus, thick and thin communities, and weak and strong ties. The empirical study used a mixed methods design, including a survey with 294 respondents from two local authorities in Scotland, one urban and one rural, and 24 interviews with stakeholders from associations and individuals about their participation in different activities. The key findings emerging from the study are that volunteering was less affected by geography and the presence of dependent children in the household than participation in other types of associational life. It also shows that volunteering was less reliant on friends than other types of associational activities, and that unlike many other types of associational life, volunteering can offer stability and continuity over time, which benefits organisations that offer opportunities both for volunteering and participation. This thesis shows that volunteering differs from other types of associational activities people engage in and proposes a more holistic approach to future research, using associational life in order to fully understand volunteering in contemporary society.
- Advisor / supervisor
- Maltman, Deborah
- Harris, Bernard
- Linning, Matthew
- Sime, Daniela
- Resource Type
- DOI
关系
项目
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PDF of thesis T17090 | 2024-10-08 | 公开 | 下载 |