German Survey on Volunteering 1999

The German Survey on Volunteering (FWS) is a representative survey on volunteering in Germany, aimed at people aged 14 and older. Voluntary activities and willingness to get involved are surveyed in telephone interviews (CATI). The Survey on Volunteering is the main basis of social reporting on volunteering in the Federal Republic of Germany and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ).

The data of the Survey on Volunteering were collected in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019. In each wave, an independent sample was drawn, resulting in five cross-sectional data sets. Previously, the surveys were managed and conducted by TNS Infratest Social Research (1999 Infratest Burke). Since the end of 2011, the scientific management has been in the hands of the German Center of Gerontology (DZA). Data collection for the fourth wave in 2014 and the fifth wave in 2019 was conducted by infas Institute for Applied Social Science.

The samples of all surveys were disproportionately stratified by state in order to achieve a sufficient sample size for separate state evaluations for each of the 16 federal states. In each case, the sampling frame was generated using the random-digit-dialing procedure (1999 random-last-digit procedure) according to the ADM standard.

The first wave was conducted in the survey period from the beginning of May to the end of July 1999. The 1999 Survey on Volunteers focused on the following topics: volunteering, the individual, and the context of volunteering.<br>The first wave was conducted during the survey period from early May to late July 1999. The 1999 Survey on Volunteering focused on the following topics: volunteering, the individual, and the context of volunteering.

1. Living situation: employment status; type of current education; length of residence at current residence (since birth, for more than 10 years, for less than 10 years); number of years if less than 10 years at current residence; satisfaction with residence; size of local circle of friends and acquaintances; living with others or alone; household size and composition; age of youngest child in household; child´s caregiver; person in household in need of care; person in need of care; respondent is primary caregiver; support persons available if help is needed; support services received from persons outside household; (relatives, neighbors, acquaintances, friends, or other persons); support services/neighborly help received by self; membership in a religious denomination or religious community; denomination; church affiliation; political interest.

2. Recording of voluntary activities: active participation in 15 possible activity or engagement areas (e.g., sports and exercise, culture and music, leisure and socializing, etc.); volunteering in areas with active participation; time spent volunteering per week; willingness to take on additional volunteer tasks; age at which one first became involved in volunteering; significance of volunteering in one´s life.

To the unemployed only: duration of unemployment since year x; volunteer involvement before unemployment began or after; volunteer involvement increased or decreased since unemployment began.

3. Structural characteristics and motivating factors of the voluntary activity: area of voluntary activity with the greatest time commitment; term that best describes the commitment; group of people involved; organizational framework; type of self-help group, initiative/project (members with similar problem, goals independent of personal problems); local or supraregional orientation of the grouping/organization; if supraregional: also active supraregionally oneself; main content of one´s own activity; activity in accident or rescue service or in the voluntary fire department as a substitute for military service or civilian service; elective office; leadership or board function; exercise of the activity mainly alone or in a team; qualification requirements for the exercise of the activity; requirements of the activity; always up to the requirements of the activity vs. sometimes feel overwhelmed; further training opportunities , already participated in courses or seminars for further training; interest in proof of voluntary activity; activity is associated with regular time commitments; time situation for the exercise of the activity; time spent on the activity (frequency and hours per month); reimbursement for financial expenses against proof; regular or occasional use of reimbursement; type of remuneration; remuneration regularly or only occasionally; assessment of remuneration as appropriate, too low or too high; remuneration per month (grouped); activity is exercised in a similar form by other persons against payment; interest in carrying out this activity professionally; connection of the voluntary activity with the professional activity; importance of the expectations associated with the voluntary activity; fulfillment of these expectations; carrying out the activity since when; impetus for taking on the activity; own initiative or having been recruited/asked; time limit of the activity; difficulty of giving up the task; own preference for extending, limiting or giving up the activity; evaluation of proposals for improving the framework conditions for voluntary commitment by the organizations themselves and by the state or employers.

Identical questioning of the structural characteristics of the second voluntary activity (without the questions about expectations and fulfillment of these expectations, impetus for taking on the activity and initiative, evaluation of suggestions for improving the framework conditions of voluntary commitment).

4. Potential for voluntary work among the non-committed: previously involved in voluntary work; area of voluntary work; voluntary work ended x years ago; evaluation of the involvement at that time from today´s perspective; personal reasons for ending the activity; other reasons for ending the activity; interest in becoming involved in voluntary work in the future; already more specific ideas; potential area of voluntary work; information centers that would be contacted; expectations of possible voluntary work (motives); reasons against voluntary work

5. Awareness of information and contact points on opportunities for voluntary work, self-help or volunteering; information or contact point in the city or region; already had contact with an information or contact point; interest in information; questions on professional activities: if not currently employed: Pursuit of any paid activity; weekly working hours; marginal employment; previous gainful employment if currently without paid activity; professional position; economic sector; if non-profit/non-profit: Type of institution/association; membership in works council/staff council; assessment of own financial situation; net household income (grouped); monetary donations in the last 12 months; total amount of monetary donation; German citizenship; military or civilian service performed; voluntary social year performed; highest level of education; value orientations.

Demography: sex; age; year of birth.

Additionally coded were: Respondent ID; ID of first and second activity; weighting factors; activity weight first and second volunteer activity; federal state; New or Old States; region size class by BIK; schooling (low, middle, high school); employment status graded; employment status dummy; engagement dummy; activity level; number of areas of engagement; engagement interest of engaged and disengaged.