Motivational dimensions associated with helping after Hurricane Harvey
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Abstract
The present research measured what type of motivation was used for helping others after Hurricane Harvey. The two types of motivation this study focused on was intrinsic and extrinsic. Additionally, the researcher examined how sex and empathy correlated with helping. A convenience sample of 86 undergrad students from a small Christian university participated in an online survey that measured these variables. Several questions were answered following this research; Females did not show significantly higher levels of intrinsic motivation and helping behavior than males. However, females did show significantly higher levels of empathy than males. Although empathy and helping were positively correlated, the direction was positive but strength was minimal. Finally, males did not show significantly higher levels of extrinsic motivation than females. The IMI (Intrinsic Motivations Inventory) assessment, the BES (Basic Empathy Scale) questionnaire, and the WPI (Work Preference Inventory) assessment were used to measure intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as well as how empathy played a role in helping. The data were analyzed using parametric tests (four t-tests and two correlations) by utilizing the latest version of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).