Enrolments are now open for the next New Zealand Social Statistics Network (NZSSN, http://www.nzssn.org.nz) short course programme. Courses are planned to run the weeks of 24–28 November and 1–5 December 2025.

We are offering 9 courses over our 2-week programme, 3 of which will be run in person on Massey University's Wellington Campus. Our practical IDI course will run in person at StatsNZ, 8 Willis Street, Wellington. Other courses will run online only; we are still not offering hybrid options.

We will decide which courses can go ahead based on enrolments received by Friday 10 October, so please enrol sooner rather than later so that we can get runs on the board.

Please pass all of this information on to anyone you know that might be interested in our courses; that would be very much appreciated.

Our new enrolment system at last enables us to handle invoice and credit card transactions through a single platform, which is a welcome improvement. For your budgeting, please do note that credit card transactions attract a 1.9% convenience fee. Links to enrol are via the course pages listed below. If you encounter any issues with the system, please let us know at nzssncourses@auckland.ac.nz. 

Courses will run 8:30AM–4:00PM each day; for online courses this is more flexible at the instructor’s discretion. Online courses are not recorded, so you will still need to attend the sessions live each day.

WEEK ONE
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH: DESIGNING, DOING, AND GETTING IT DONE: WELLINGTON 24–28 NOVEMBER
https://www.compass.auckland.ac.nz/short-courses/qualitative-research
INSTRUCTORS: Delwyn Goodrick, Social researcher and evaluation consultant; Rosie Solomon, Ngāpuhi, Qualitative researcher and programme evaluator

This introductory, interactive course covers a range of qualitative research techniques and best practice for collection and analysis, and working with, and for, Māori research communities. The course does not cover software for analysis, but provides an understanding of the key grounding principles for conducting research in Aotearoa.

MIXED METHODS IN SOCIAL RESEARCH: ONLINE ONLY 24–28 NOVEMBER
https://www.compass.auckland.ac.nz/short-courses/mixed-methods
INSTRUCTOR: 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. Appropriate software for different methods is mentioned, but this course does not explore them.

STORYTELLING WITH DATA IN EXCEL: ONLINE ONLY 24–25 NOVEMBER
https://www.compass.auckland.ac.nz/short-courses/storytelling-excel
INSTRUCTOR: Mark Griffin, Insight Social Research & Statistics, Australia

A new course in our roster this year, this covers data processing and design principles for making Excel graphs that really have an impact on the viewer. Please note that this course will be taught in a seminar room, so a laptop with the software installed will be required.

STORYTELLING WITH DATA IN R: ONLINE ONLY 27–28 NOVEMBER
https://www.compass.auckland.ac.nz/short-courses/storytelling-r
INSTRUCTOR: Mark Griffin, Insight Social Research & Statistics, Australia

Another new course, covering much the same content as the Excel course, but for those wanting to learn the techniques for creating high-impact graphs using R.

INTRODUCTION TO SQL: ONLINE ONLY 24–25 NOVEMBER
https://www.compass.auckland.ac.nz/short-courses/intro-sql
INSTRUCTOR: Daniel Fryer, La Trobe University

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, and will move through to more complicated queries and integration of SQL with R by way of Tidyverse.

POWER BI FOR BEGINNERS: ONLINE ONLY 26–28 NOVEMBER
https://www.compass.auckland.ac.nz/short-courses/power-bi-beginners
INSTRUCTOR: Daniel Fryer, La Trobe University

This course introduces Microsoft's Power BI, focusing on products that are free to use, and helps participants turn raw data into clear, shareable dashboard visualisations.

WEEK TWO
APPLIED STATISTICAL PROCEDURES: ONLINE ONLY 1–5 DECEMBER
https://www.compass.auckland.ac.nz/short-courses/applied-stats
INSTRUCTOR: Gordon Emmerson, Honorary Fellow, Victoria University, Melbourne

A course giving a good overview of a 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 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.

PROGRAMME EVALUATION: SUPPORTING EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE: WELLINGTON 1–3 DECEMBER
https://www.compass.auckland.ac.nz/short-coursers/programme-evaluation
INSTRUCTOR: 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 once again adds huge value with her interesting presentation of case studies.

VHIN INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH IN THE IDI / VHIN HE WHAKATAKINGAKI TE RANGAHAU I TE IDI: WELLINGTON 1 DECEMBER
https://www.compass.auckland.ac.nz/short-courses/idi-theory
INSTRUCTORS: Annie Chiang, Waipapa Taumata Rau / University of Auckland; Sharan Ram, Massey University

A course in collaboration with the Virtual Health Information Network (VHIN), which 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.

PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR IDI DATA ANALYSIS: WELLINGTON 2–4 DECEMBER
https://www.compass.auckland.ac.nz/short-courses/idi-practical
INSTRUCTORS: Eileen Li, Ministry of Health; Annie Chiang, Waipapa Taumata Rau / University of Auckland

A hands-on course covering skills required to undertake data analysis in the IDI, within a real Data Lab environment and using real IDI data. This will take place within StatsNZ at 8 Willis Street, Wellington.