2024 RTP round - Not-for-profit organisation personality, volunteer motivation and well-being from participation in sustainable activities

Status: Closed

Applications open: 7/07/2023
Applications close: 25/08/2023

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About this scholarship
Description/Applicant information

Not-for-profit (NFP) organisations with environmentally sustainable goals must rely on volunteers to achieve these goals. Creating a distinct brand identity helps NFP organisations to appeal to potential volunteers. This project develops a personality scale that brands and differentiates NFP organisations in the marketplace. It also examines why volunteers participate in environmentally sustainable activities organised by NFP organisations, what well-being outcomes they seek and whether they will engage in further participation. To achieve these objectives, the project employs a mixed-methods approach that incorporates qualitative and quantitative research. The qualitative research employs an extant literature review, focus groups and expert panels to consider the personality attributes that best describe an NFP organisation, volunteer motivations and their anticipated well-being outcomes when participating in environmentally sustainable activities. The quantitative research implements a self-administered survey targeted at volunteers on the databases of NFP organisations. The NFP organisations that collaborate on this project are selected based on their environmentally sustainable goals and ability to attract domestic and international patronage. Findings are expected to expand the theoretical groundwork on brand personality, volunteer push-pull motivation and well-being outcomes that impact future participation. Outputs are also envisaged to provide practical insights for how NFP organisations can hone their brand identity through their personality so as to launch communication and recruitment campaigns that attract volunteers and maintain their continued participation. 

The project has three key aims:
1. To forge networks with NFP organisations by collaborating in the development of their brand identity.
2. To identify what motivates volunteer participation in environmentally sustainable activities organised by NFP organisations. 
3. To ascertain well-being outcomes from volunteered participation in environmentally sustainable activities. 

The project has three research objectives: 
1. To develop a measure for NFP organisation personality that appeals to volunteer participation.
2. To understand the push-pull psyche of volunteers by identifying which NFP organisations and environmentally sustainable activities appeal to volunteers (pull factors) and what motivates them to participate (push factors).
3. To investigate how participation contributes to volunteer well-being and their further participation in environmentally sustainable activities. 

Theoretical implications:
1. A newly-developed scale that measures NFP organisation personality. This new instrument is expected to expand the body of work on brand identity and personality. 
2. An identified set of motivational drivers that instigate volunteer participation in environmentally sustainable activities organised by NFP organisations. These drivers are envisaged to extend the literature on push-pull and motivation theory. 
3. A typology of volunteer well-being characteristics that impact future participation. This new categorisation is predicted to set the groundwork that links volunteer well-being with intention to further participate in environmentally sustainable activities. 

Methodological implications:
1. Rigorous mixed-methods approach for developing the NFP organisation personality scale. A relatively new Best-Worst approach, intended for the scale development, is likely to benefit quantitative research on brand personality. 
Managerial implications:
1. Builds brand identity for NFP organisations by creating differentiation with brand personality.
2. Provides insights into how NFP organisations are perceived by potential volunteers and what environmentally sustainable activities motivate volunteer participation. This guides NFP organisations to design activities that instigate interest in volunteers.
3. Enhances learning on desired volunteer well-being outcomes. This directs communication and recruitment campaigns that appeal to volunteer well-being and their further participation. 

There are internship opportunities available. There is opportunity for the PhD applicant to conduct a 60-day full-time internship with an NFP organisation in a marketing capacity that aligns with the research objectives and advances the development of this project. 

Student type

• Future Students

Faculty

• Faculty of Business and Law

Course type

• Higher Degree by Research

Citizenship

• Australian Citizen
• Australian Permanent Resident
• New Zealand Citizen
• Permanent Humanitarian Visa
• International Student

Scholarship base

• Merit Based

Value

The annual scholarship package (stipend and tuition fees) is approx. $60,000 - $70,000 p.a.

Successful HDR applicants for admission will receive a 100% fee offset for up to 4 years, stipend scholarships at the 2023 RTP rate valued at $32,250 p.a. for up to a maximum of 3 years, with a possible 6 month completion scholarship. Applicants are determined via a competitive selection process and will be notified of the scholarship outcome in November 2023. 

For detailed information, visit: Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships | Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

Scholarship Details
Maximum number awarded

1

Eligible courses

All applicable HDR courses

Eligibility criteria

Competent in acquiring an in-depth understanding of the research area and the key issues that relate to the area.

Proficient in statistical analysis programs, such as SPSS, WarpPLS and AMOS and interpretation of results.

Articulate in written and verbal communication skills.

Proactive and resourceful, with initiative and commitment to drive, manage, problem-solve and complete the project within the stipulated timeframe. 

Application process

This project has identified a preferred candidate and is no longer available.  Please review remaining scholarships projects .

Enrolment Requirements

Eligible to enrol in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2024.

Recipients must complete their milestone 1 within 6 month of enrolment and remain enrolled on a full-time basis for the duration of the scholarship.

Enquiries

The Project lead has identified a preferred candidate and is no longer accepting applications. Please click here to review remaining scholarships projects.

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