Volunteers in natural resource, outdoor recreation, and environmental management and planning: Understanding the role of expectations in the fulfillment of psychological contracts

According to trend data, volunteering in recreation and the environment is increasing. While volunteer motivations have been studied in-depth, volunteer expectations have not been examined as closely. Other fields of study have found expectations influence trust, satisfaction, purchase and voting behaviors, and continued involvement. Analyzing data from a general household survey of the Great Lakes region, this thesis examines volunteer expectations based on sociodemographic variables, type of volunteer behavior, and type of organization volunteered with. Assessing expectations, this study found that regardless of type of participatory behavior or type of organization volunteered with, respondents viewed their participation as more than simply providing labor. Individuals performing all types of behaviors expected to have some level of influence in the decision making process. It is important for managers to create innovative ways to adapt their management style in order to meet expectations and fulfill volunteers' psychological contracts.