S.O.S. on my phone: An analysis of motives and incentives for participation in smartphone-based volunteering

Abstract

This paper aimed to analyse the potential of new technologies to support volunteer engagement in emergency response. To examine prerequisites for the use of a smartphone-based application by medically trained volunteers in circumstances in which regular medical resources are exceeded, the influence of volunteering motives and user characteristics were assessed via an online survey. Results demonstrate that value-oriented individuals evaluated the system more positively and were more willing to participate. Career-oriented motivation and technical expertise had a partial influence. Different incentives emphasized in the system description did not make any difference, possibly because the overall evaluation was very positive. Among other implications, results point to the relevance of investigating ways to address value-oriented individuals and to effectively trigger their motivation.