An assessment of relationship quality between Forest Service land managers and volunteers

The relationship between Forest Service land managers and volunteers was studied quantitatively utilizing theoretical principles of relationship management theory and efficacy. 39 Forest Service employees completed quantitative surveys designed to compare within sample responses related to four volunteer partner types. Results showed measurable differences between mean scores for relationship quality and efficacy levels between partnership types selected as those land managers most liked and least liked working with. Partial support was found for the hypothesis stating that levels of relationship quality would predict willingness to recruit and work with volunteers, and partial support was also found for the hypothesis stating that levels of self-efficacy and response efficacy would predict willingness to recruit and work with volunteers. Although key limitations exist, this first attempt at a quantitative evaluation of this relationship between a government agency and its public reveals several conclusions relevant to the Forest Service and volunteer partnerships.