The Effects of the Even-a-Few-Minutes-Would-Help Strategy, Perspective Taking, and Empathic Concern on the Successful Recruiting of Volunteers on Campus

Abstract

This paper assessed the effectiveness of the application of the even-a-penny-helps strategy to recruiting volunteers by changing the wording to “even a few minutes would help.” The moderating, mediating, and direct impact of perspective taking and empathic concern were also investigated. Across conditions, the data (n = 55) were consistent with a model in which perspective taking leads to empathic concern, which in turn, leads to increased volunteering. Whereas more people volunteered (23%) in the even-a-few-minutes group than a direct request control group (14%), the difference was not statistically significant. The effectiveness of the even-a-few-minutes strategy, however, was moderated by perspective taking. The even-a-few-minutes strategy (50%) was substantially more effective than a direct request (5%) for individuals high in perspective taking but counterproductive (6% compliance vs. 33% in the control group) when used on people scoring low on perspective taking.