NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region, North Slave Region

Tags: social sciences, recreation, sports, public participation, northern community, volunteerism, organized sports

Project Description: This study is important because it will provide a detailed picture of sports volunteerism in four small NWT communities. It should provide an answer to the question of whether there are currently enough volunteers for sports activities. The researcher will examine why some people volunteer, while looking at what prevents others from participating. He will make recommendations to help increase sports volunteerism in small communities and help support those who are already volunteering. The four communities in which data collection will occur include Holman, Deline, Wha Ti, and the Hay River Reserve. The researchers will contact the community recreation coordinators for each community in order to set up a community visit date and to get the support of the coordinator in setting up the study group of sports volunteers and non-volunteers. The community visits will take place in late April and early May. They will last for two days. Day one will focus on gaining the input from sports volunteers through a demographic profile, a focus group interview, and a brief survey on factors contributing to sports volunteerism. Day two will focus on interviews with non-volunteers to assess what, if any, barriers prevent them from volunteering. It is hoped that in each community data will be collected from approximately 6-10 volunteers and 4-6 non-volunteers. In total, the study group will consist of approximately 32 sports volunteers and 20 non-volunteers. Data collection will include focus group interviews, individual interviews, a demographic profile for volunteers, and a brief survey for both volunteers and non-volunteers. All the participants will be told what the study is for, the risks, and their rights, and they will sign consent forms. The confidentiality of the participants will be maintained. Tapes and notes and any identifying information from the interviews will be kept in a locked filing cabinet in the researcher's office. The data will be deleted after the study is done. The results of the study will be compiled in a report of approximately 80 to 100 pages. Copies of the report will be provided to each of the research participants, to each community in which the study occured, to the Knowledge Development Centre in Ottawa, to Sport North, and to libraries in the NWT. The study will be conducted in the communities of Holman, Deline, Wha Ti, and the Hay River Reserve.