VHIN He Whakatakinga ki te Rangahau i te IDI

Fee structure

Students
275 NZD

Everyone else
550 NZD

Course outline

This course provides an orientation to Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), and discusses some of the opportunities and major issues around its use for research. It is taught by two experienced IDI researchers from a growing team of trained instructors, and includes ample time for discussion, questions, and networking with other course participants.

Are you considering using the IDI but aren’t sure where to begin? Are you interested in learning more about how the IDI can be used for research? This course would be of interest to a wide range of researchers and analysts in government agencies, academics, policymakers, health professionals, and postgraduate students in these situations.

The value of routine data and its potential usefulness to research has never been greater, and the IDI has led the way internationally in this area. It comprises anonymised microdata about people and households from a range of government agencies, surveys, censuses since 2013, and non-government organisations. The IDI can be a fantastic research resource, but successful research requires knowledge and contacts often not available to new users. This course provides information on appropriate people to contact, and resources through which IDI users may build their knowledge bases.

We introduce the IDI, provide practical tips on its use, and use examples from a number of projects including the “A Better Start” and “Healthier Lives” National Science Challenges. The final session of the day includes additional presentations from a panel of established IDI users, and a question and answer session with them as well.

This course is sponsored by the Virtual Health Information Network (VHIN), which offers a wide range of resources to support new IDI users, including a Facebook group, shared program code, and a monthly webinar series. StatsNZ itself now also has an integrated data discussion board, ID Commons.

If you want any further advice on whether this course is right for you, please email nzssncourses@auckland.ac.nz and we will put you in touch with the instructors.