The New Zealand Social Statistics Network (NZSSN) is running a series of courses, some planned to be in person in Auckland and others online via Zoom. Please see a brief summary of courses on offer below, and full details plus links to enrol at http://www.nzssn.org.nz.

Enrolment via the site is by credit card or bank transfer. If you require an invoice, please email nzssncourses@auckland.ac.nz to initiate that process.

Courses run 8:30AM to 4PM NZDT each day. Courses are administered through COMPASS Research Centre at the University of Auckland, but these are not University of Auckland courses, and carry no accreditation.

WEEK ONE
MIXED METHODS IN SOCIAL RESEARCH: 12–16 FEBRUARY (5 DAYS) (ONLINE)
INSTRUCTOR: Dr Gordon Emmerson, Honorary Fellow, Victoria University, Melbourne
A course for researchers who want to know more about using both qualitative and quantitative methods in their research. Gordon delves deeply into the theory on both sides, and the theory and practice of combining methods, but while mentions are made of appropriate software for the different methods, this course does not explore them.

PROGRAMME EVALUATION: SUPPORTING EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE: 13–15 FEBRUARY (3 DAYS)
INSTRUCTOR: Dr Delwyn Goodrick, Programme Evaluation Consultant
A course for public sector workers and academics commissioning, managing, or conducting evaluations of public policy or programmes, or just interested in undertaking such projects. Delwyn has taught this course all around the world, and adds huge value with her interesting and often amusing presentation of case studies throughout.

VHIN INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH IN THE IDI: 12 FEBRUARY (1 DAY)
INSTRUCTORS: Associate Professor Barry Milne & Dr Stephanie D'Souza, COMPASS Research Centre, University of Auckland
A course in collaboration with the Virtual Health Information Network (VHIN) that describes the data sets available in Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), and goes through in great detail the requirements and processes for getting started with analysing them. The presenters discuss many studies that have already been undertaken using IDI data, including from their own work, and include other expert users in a panel session at day’s end.

A course introducing the basic structures and commands for handling SQL databases. Participants will work natively using Azure Data Studio, on data sets that have been constructed to illustrate SQL structure. We are adding two further days to the course this year, covering further queries, and also integration with R by way of Tidyverse.

WEEK TWO
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH: DESIGNING, DOING, GETTING IT DONE: 19–23 FEBRUARY (5 DAYS)
INSTRUCTORS: Dr Delwyn Goodrick, Social researcher and evaluation consultant; Rosie Solomon, Ngāpuhi, Qualitative researcher and programme evaluator
This course covers a range of qualitative research techniques and includes best practice for collection and analysis, and working with, and for, Māori. The course does not cover software for analysis, but provides an understanding of the key grounding principles for conducting research in Aotearoa.

APPLIED STATISTICAL PROCEDURES: 19–23 FEBRUARY (5 DAYS) (ONLINE)
INSTRUCTOR: Dr Gordon Emmerson, Honorary Fellow, Victoria University, Melbourne
A course giving a good overview of a wide range of statistical procedures all in one place, taught using SPSS or Jamovi. Topics range from Chi-Square tests to Multivariate Analysis of Variance to Factor Analysis. Gordon defines research methodologies and practices to enable participants to match their research designs with their research needs, and uses examples from his own experience to explain appropriate procedures for different types of data.