ARE COSTS BENEFICIAL FOR MOTIVATING INDIVIDUALS TO VOLUNTEER

This study tested the hypothesis that costs would be more effective th an benefits in recruiting individuals for volunteer community service. College students listened to volunteer recruiting messages that empha sized benefits, or combined benefits and costs. Subsequently, took inf ormation sheets about volunteer activities and/or signed lists to rece ive phone calls from volunteer agencies. Students hearing the costs on ly message or the combined message signed more lists and took more inf ormation sheets than those who heard the benefits only message. Result s were consistent with past research on overjustification and effort j ustification. Implications for volunteer recruitment are discussed.