ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the incentive specialization hypothesis from the individual members’ viewpoints. The system of incentives at the organization level of analysis reveal great heterogeneity in the National Association Study sample. The central focus of the analysis is the relationship between organizational inducements and member interests, and their effects on member contributions to the collectivity. Members express many motives for joining a collective action organization. Members’ reasons for joining and continuing to contribute to their associations remain fairly constant over time, if their retrospective reports are to be believed. Interests in multiple incentives are widespread among members, paralleling organizational systems that offer a variety of inducements. A modest tendency occurs for complex incentive systems to attract members with more heterogeneous incentive interests. In terms of incentives’ effects on member contributions, complex incentive systems actually generate smaller time and money contributions than more specialized systems, contrary to expectations.
