NZSSN Short Courses

The New Zealand Social Statistics Network (NZSSN) assists in the development of quantitative social science research in the academic, government, and private sectors.

About NZSSN

The New Zealand Social Statistics Network (NZSSN) has been running short courses in social science research methods annually since 2005, following the model of the Australian Consortium for Social & Political Research Incorporated (ACSPRI), which has been running courses for more than 40 years. Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland is also a member organisation of ACSPRI, with staff and students eligible for discounts on their course programmes, which run in February and July each year.
Qualitative Research: Designing, Doing, and Getting it Done
Wellington: Monday 24 – Friday 28 November 2025
Students: 1,400 NZD; Everyone else: 2,800 NZD

This is an introductory course on qualitative methodologies, including principles and practices for working with and for Māori researchers. Participants need neither any background in research nor previous experience with qualitative techniques.

Programme Evaluation: Supporting Evidence-Informed Practice
Wellington: Monday 1 – Wednesday 3 December 2025
Students: 850 NZD; Everyone else: 1,700 NZD

A course for public sector workers and academics commissioning, managing, or conducting evaluations of public policy or programmes.

Mixed Methods in Social Research
Online: Monday 24 – Friday 28 November 2025
Students: 1,025 NZD; Everyone else: 2,050 NZD

This is an introductory course on principles and practices for conducting research that involves both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. It covers theory and practice on both sides, and describes techniques for combining them, with examples from academic and policy research.

Applied Statistical Procedures (online)
Online: Monday 1 – Friday 5 December 2025
Students: 1,025 NZD; Everyone else: 2,050 NZD

A course giving a good overview of a number of statistical procedures all in one place, from Chi‑Square to Multivariate Analysis of Variance to Factor Analysis.

Introduction to SQL
Online: Monday 24 – Tuesday 25 November 2025
Students: 400 NZD; Everyone else: 800 NZD

A course covering Structured Query Language (SQL) coding, with participants using the freely available Azure Data Studio. This is a good tie-in to our VHIN Introduction to Research in the IDI course, because IDI data are natively held in SQL databases. The language is also applicable in many other areas.

Introduction to Power BI
Online: Wednesday 26 – Thursday 27 November 2025
Students: 400 NZD; Everyone else: 800 NZD
Details TBC
Storytelling with Data in Excel
Online: Monday 24 – Tuesday 25 November 2025
Students: 400 NZD; Everyone else: 800 NZD

A course teaching the design principles required to make plots that really have an impact on the reader, using the Excel software package.

Storytelling with Data in R
Online: Thursday 27 – Friday 28 November 2025
Students: 400 NZD; Everyone else: 800 NZD

A course teaching the design principles required to make plots that really have an impact on the reader, using the R software package.

VHIN Introduction to Research in the IDI
Wellington: Monday 1 December 2025
Students: 275 NZD; Everyone else: 550 NZD

A course on Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) and the requirements and processes for getting started with analysing its data.

Practical Skills for IDI Data Analysis
Wellington: Tuesday 2 – Thursday 4 December 2025
Students: 850 NZD; Everyone else: 1,700 NZD

A hands-on course covering skills required to undertake data analysis in the IDI, within a real Datalab environment and using real IDI data.