Motivation of Sichuan Earthquake Volunteers and Its Implication for Emergency Management

[Purpose] We attempted to explore the unique feature of volunteers´ motivation in emergency events. [Method] Firstly, the reliability and validity of Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) was tested to confirm its applicability in Chinese participants. Secondly, the differences of motivation between Sichuan earthquake volunteers and other three kinds of volunteers (Beijing Olympic Game volunteers, volunteer teacher candidates and Beijing Paralympic Game volunteers) were found using ANOVA. [Results] The results showed that the most important motivation for volunteers in the emergency events was value. They also had relatively higher motivation in the understanding dimension compared with other kinds of volunteers. [Conclusion] The findings suggested the existence of multi-motivation in volunteers of emergency events and the organizations should pay more attention to volunteers´ value and understanding motivation during the process of management. The organizer should provide the opportunity to express volunteers´ personal value and to learn and exercise their knowledge, skills, and abilities through their volunteering experience.