IN THIS STUDY, WHICH FOCUSED ON VOLUNTEER AND STAFF PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL YWCA, DATA WERE EXAMINED ON THE DIFFERENCES IN AGE, MARITAL STATUS, RELIGION, VALUE ORIENTATION, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, MOTIVATION, AND ROLE PERCEPTION WHICH AFFECTED THE PARTICIPATORY BEHAVIOR OF MEMBERS OF A COMMITTEE GROUP WORKING ON A SPECIFIC PROJECT. ATTENTION WAS ALSO GIVEN TO ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES WHICH MINIMIZED CONFLICTS AND MAXIMIZED THE COOPERATIVE AND SATISFYING PARTICIPATION OF VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF MEMBERS. CONTINUING INVOLVEMENT IN PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, HOLDING OFFICES, ATTENDING MEETINGS, VOTING IN ELECTIONS AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF WERE THE CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING PARTICIPATION. EXCEPT FOR MARITAL STATUS, THE SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TWO GROUPS CORRELATED CLOSELY, THUS DISPELLING THE MYTH THAT INTERGROUP STRESSES AND STRAINS FREQUENTLY AROSE BECAUSE OF DISSIMILAR BACKGROUNDS. IN GENERAL PARTICIPATION WAS ENHANCED BY THOSE FACTORS--INTERPERSONAL INFLUENCES, NORMATIVE DISPOSITIONS, THE NATURE OF THE JOB, STABILITY OF THE WORK FORCE, AND ORIENTATION TOWARD WORK LIFE AND COWORKERS--MAKING FOR GREATER IDENTIFICATION WITH ONE'S OCCUPATIONAL SITUATION AND COMMUNITY. THIS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DOCTOR OF SOCIAL WORK THESIS IS AVAILABLE FROM UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN. ORDER NO. MIC 61-2207. MICROFILM $2.95. XEROX $10.35. 226 PAGES. (AUTHOR/LY)