Engaged and being inspired: how science volunteering project experience drives women’s intention to engage in citizen science?

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of science volunteering initiatives on the experiences of women and their subsequent inclination to continue volunteering. The research sought to examine the impact of particular social cognitive variables on their eagerness to partake in events and organizations. The study encompassed 369 female volunteers who were affiliated with a science volunteering project administered by the Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan. To analyze the proposed relationships, path analysis was employed. By drawing upon the Social Cognitive Career Theory(SCCT) model, our discoveries unveiled that investigative learning experiences, self-efficacy, and a professional interest in scientific vocations are significant factors that contribute to the intention to engage in citizen science activities. Importantly, self-efficacy and career interest played pivotal roles as chain mediating variables between learning experiences and the intention to participate in the science volunteer program. This study humbly contributes to the literature on gender by exploring how volunteering experiences impact female participants’ intentions to continue their engagement in volunteer work, with the discussion section emphasizing the implications for those interested in sustaining their involvement in volunteer programs and highlighting the contributions of this paper to gender-focused research.