Table 3.

Themes

Themes

Complex Motivations

Never was motivation or the decision-making process simple or one-dimensional. Financial reward was usually necessary but never sufficient.

• Motives get people interested in the experiment; optimum information and a personal approach toward the volunteers were important in keeping volunteers motivated.20

• No volunteer considered financial reward unimportant, but 8.8% of volunteers would participate even if there was no financial reward.13

• Only 4.2% of medical student volunteers would participate for financial reward alone.14

• Financial reward was the primary reason given for volunteering, but the perceived risk was the ultimate deciding factor.16

• 20.6% denied that financial reward had been their only motive for participation; they stated their other reasons: above all, humanitarian ones.21

• Social motives were often a very important secondary motivation.23

Risk

Perceived risk is an important factor, and volunteers expressed an “absolute limit” on risk level:

• 45.6% of nonvolunteers refused because of concerns about the risk involved.15

• Perceived risk of the study was the ultimate deciding factor.16

• Fear of risk was the main reason for not volunteering (53%).19

Repeat Volunteers

Repeat volunteers were more likely to be motivated by financial reward:

• 90% of repeat volunteers listed financial reward as a primary motivation.14

• After the first study, university setting volunteers continued to participate for financial reward.16

Ancillary Care

In Malawi, access to healthcare was a major motivator.18

A Personal Approach

Respecting research volunteers, both by sharing the results of the research and acknowledging competing time commitments, was a motivating factor.

• A personal approach kept volunteers motivated during the experiment.20

• 94.9% of volunteers heard about the study by “word-of-mouth”.13

• Volunteers wanted access to the results of the research.18

• The study environment, especially the behavior of the study staff and other volunteers, has a large impact on participant well-being.23

* Each bulleted item refers only to a specific study. None are intended to be read as a summary of the data set.