Developing Leaders of Volunteers in a Faith-Based Organization

Based on feedback from my dissertation committee this week, I’ve revised some of my pre-proposal. Here’s the latest and greatest:

Proposed Title of the Study
Developing Leaders of Volunteers in a Faith-Based Organization

Statement of the Problem
In today’s time-strapped culture, recruiting and maintaining a robust and motivated cadre of volunteers is critical to the work of non-profit organizations, including those who volunteer as leaders in faith-based organizations. When leaders are not well-versed in the unique challenges in leading volunteers, volunteers may stop volunteering.

Research Questions

• Primary Research Question: How do non-paid leaders of volunteers describe their leadership development and training? (or maybe “To what extent is developing effective leaders of volunteers different from developing leaders of paid staff?”)
• Additional Objectives or Questions: To what extent does the Presbyterian Church (USA) provide leadership development training for its elders, who are non-paid leaders of the church’s volunteers? What leadership development content and methods would be beneficial for elders (and other non-paid leaders of volunteers) within the PC(USA)?

Importance or Significance of the Study
Though studies have been conducted regarding volunteer retention, little research has been conducted regarding leadership development programs for those who lead the volunteers, especially within faith-based organizations. Faith-based organizations tend to rely on volunteers to accomplish much of their work or missions.

Topics in the Literature Review
A variety of topics will be studied, including evaluation of leadership development programs, leaders of volunteers, leaders in non-profit associations, leaders in faith-based organizations, and retention of volunteers.

Methodology
To investigate this topic, a mixed methodology will be employed with a sequential explanatory strategy. As stated by Creswell, the qualitative results will “assist in explaining and interpreting the findings” of this primarily quantitative study (Creswell, 2003, p. 215).

Data Collection
An electronic survey will be conducted within two or more presbyteries in the southeastern United States. Existing leadership development materials will be studied. Additionally, in-depth interviews will be conducted, either face-to-face or over the telephone, with a small sample of elders from the relevant prebyteries.

Reference

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Summer 2008 Progress and Plans

This semester, I am still at work on Milestone Group One at Capella University toward completion of a Ph.D. in Training and Performance Improvement. To successfully complete these milestones, I must achieve the following goals, according to the School of Education Dissertation Milestones Guidebook:

1.       Dissertation Committee Approved

2.       Learner-researcher and Mentor Complete CITI Training

3.       Mentor Approved Proposal

Milestone Progress

·         Milestone One: My dissertation committee is complete. It is composed of Michael McGivern, Ph.D, Jamie Barron, Ph.D., and Charlotte Redden, Ph.D.

·         Milestone Two: My CITI Training was completed in May 2007; the completion certification is on file.

·         Milestone Three: My pre-proposal is nearing completion. I expect to have it in Dr. Mike’s hands during the week of July 28. After his approval of the pre-proposal, I will dig into Chapter Two of the dissertation, the literature review. I have found approximately 50 sources that should be of value to me. My intent is to have this milestone complete by the end of this quarter.

Barriers to Completion of the Milestones

The primary barriers I see that could impede my progress in my dissertation are:

·         Full-time tenure-track faculty position as an Assistant Professor at Georgia Southern University, teaching five courses this fall (including two new preps)

·         Family responsibilities as a parent of four, ages 8-19

However, I have always worked best when juggling multiple responsibilities, and I believe that with the support of my spouse and some trusted colleagues at GSU, I will achieve my goal of completing all three milestones during Summer Quarter. I have a great cheering squad.

Photo Credit: “Trip in a look,” originally uploaded by Nicola Beccu