Receptivity to persons with mental retardation: a study of volunteer interest

College students (N = 78) completed a series of questionnaires dealing with their personal value systems, perceptions and attitudes concerning persons with mental retardation, volunteer experience, and attitudes and beliefs regarding volunteer work with persons with mental retardation. They were then questioned as to their interest in doing such volunteer work. Data on the students who expressed an interest in volunteer work and those who did not were compared. Results showed that the importance that students placed on certain values in their personal lives was the best predictor of volunteer interest. The importance of these findings for better understanding the nature of people's receptivity to persons with mental retardation was discussed.