The Effect of COVID-19 on the Number of In-Person Volunteers Versus Cash Donors
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Behavioral Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
COVID-19 has been devastating the world since March 2020. Health-care workers and front-line workers have been stretched thin by the needs of the general public. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on in-person volunteering compared to cash donations. It was hypothesized that as a result of COVID-19, in-person volunteering would decrease and cash donations would increase because people would feel more inclined to donate than to volunteer in person to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. The agencies of Goodwill, United Way Association of South Carolina, and Feed My Sheep Movement and Ministry were contacted and asked for the number of people weekly that volunteered and donated money from the weeks of February 2020 to August 2020. The hypothesis was confirmed based on the information received showing that people did indeed volunteer less and donate more, and outcomes of the linear regression test showed a relevant connection between the number of in-person volunteers and cash donors, F(1, 28) = 84.3, p < .001, R-squared = .75, R-squared adjusted = .74, B = 1.82. According to a Pearson r correlation test, there was a strong association between the two variables, r(28) = -0.83, p < .001. This means that during COVID-19, when the number of in-person volunteers decreased, the number of cash donors increased. This further supports the need for non-profit organizations and volunteering agencies to do more to promote community service during the coronavirus, especially in the wake of an increase of cases.
Recommended Citation
Chada, Srihith, "The Effect of COVID-19 on the Number of In-Person Volunteers Versus Cash Donors" (2022). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 7.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2022/all/7
Location
B&E 234
Start Date
4-2-2022 10:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of COVID-19 on the Number of In-Person Volunteers Versus Cash Donors
B&E 234
COVID-19 has been devastating the world since March 2020. Health-care workers and front-line workers have been stretched thin by the needs of the general public. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on in-person volunteering compared to cash donations. It was hypothesized that as a result of COVID-19, in-person volunteering would decrease and cash donations would increase because people would feel more inclined to donate than to volunteer in person to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. The agencies of Goodwill, United Way Association of South Carolina, and Feed My Sheep Movement and Ministry were contacted and asked for the number of people weekly that volunteered and donated money from the weeks of February 2020 to August 2020. The hypothesis was confirmed based on the information received showing that people did indeed volunteer less and donate more, and outcomes of the linear regression test showed a relevant connection between the number of in-person volunteers and cash donors, F(1, 28) = 84.3, p < .001, R-squared = .75, R-squared adjusted = .74, B = 1.82. According to a Pearson r correlation test, there was a strong association between the two variables, r(28) = -0.83, p < .001. This means that during COVID-19, when the number of in-person volunteers decreased, the number of cash donors increased. This further supports the need for non-profit organizations and volunteering agencies to do more to promote community service during the coronavirus, especially in the wake of an increase of cases.
