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Graduation Term
Summer 2026
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Politics and Government
Committee Chair
Mike Hendricks
Committee Member
Noha Shawki
Abstract
This study examines the association between perceived program inclusivity and stated volunteer intention among adult residents of four Chicago neighborhoods adjacent to the South Branch of the Chicago River. Using a cross-sectional, vignette-based survey design, 240 respondents evaluated a hypothetical community-based kayaking and environmental education program and rated its inclusivity across four dimensions: physical accessibility, welcoming environment, meaningful engagement, and community responsiveness. Volunteer intention was measured on a five-point ordinal scale. Ordinal logistic regression, controlling for age, education, prior volunteering, neighborhood, gender, race, sexual orientation, and income, revealed that perceived program inclusivity was a statistically significant positive predictor of volunteer intention (proportional odds ratio = 3.39, 95% CI [1.91, 6.01], p < .001). Among demographic controls, only gender was significant, with female respondents reporting higher intention. The findings provide initial quantitative evidence that inclusive program design features, such as barrier removal and community-responsive planning, are positively associated with volunteer intention. Interpreted through the integrated lenses of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Self-Determination Theory, the results suggest that structural inclusivity may function as a practical lever for broadening civic engagement. Limitations include the use of a convenience sample, reliance on stated intention rather than observed behavior, and modest scale reliability. Future research should employ larger, more diverse samples and longitudinal designs to test whether these associations hold across populations and translate into actual participation.
Access Type
Thesis-ISU Access Only
Recommended Citation
Bhuiyan, Md Ikram Hossain, "Program Design as a Predictor of Volunteer Intention: A Regression Analysis for Informing Evidence-Based Volunteer Recruitment" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 2398.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/2398