What We Do Together: Exploring Volunteering Using the Concept of Associational Life
Dr David Bomark’s recently completed PhD at the University of Strathclyde - What We Do Together: Exploring Volunteering Using the Concept of Associational Life.
Volunteer Scotland have published statistical data showing that formal volunteer participation rates are higher for Scottish adults who undertake recreational activities, such as sports and cultural activities. From this data alone Volunteer Scotland couldn’t confirm if participation in other recreational activities causes increased volunteer participation, but we did see a strong relationship between participation and volunteering. Given this demonstrated relationship, Volunteer Scotland felt it was important to gain a better understanding of the relationship between volunteer participation and other activities Scottish adults participate in.
Therefore, Volunteer Scotland initiated a PhD with the University of Strathclyde to research the role that volunteering has in Scottish adults’ lives and how this differs from other activities. To undertake this research, the concept of associational life was introduced and is defined as: any formal and informal activity that people do together with other people that have some level of continuity and are discretionary in nature. The figure below highlights the key areas of research.
The research used the evidence gathered to provide a number of recommendations to the sector including:
- The introduction of associational life as a conceptual tool. The concept of associational life has the potential to be useful in many research settings where the aim is to understand how people engage with others in contemporary society, which is more individualised and informal.
- Research on volunteering needs to look beyond its relationship to sports, and consider other, currently unexplored relationships, to volunteering.
- Voluntary organisations can benefit from offering potential members multiple ways of engaging with them, such as volunteer or participant.
- Connect voluntary organisations with GP surgeries and support workers. This relates to the previous point on offering different types of participation in an organisation or club, as some people can benefit from the commitment that volunteering offers
- Ensuring places where associational life takes place are physically accessible.
David’s Full PhD Thesis is also available to download. To find out more about the research or to share any insights and feedback please contact Dr David Bomark through Debbie Maltman, deborah.maltman@volunteerscotland.org.uk (Volunteer Scotland).