New Zealand Social Statistics Network | Social Statistics Research Group

The New Zealand Social Statistics Network (NZSSN) is based within the Social Statistics Research Group (SSRG), Department of Sociology, The University of Auckland. This website, while mainly about the network, kindly hosts information about the projects both completed and in progress within the research group, and the publications resulting from them. NZSSN's activities are described below, before more information about SSRG.

NZSSN aims to assist in the development of quantitative social science research in the academic, government and private research sectors. NZSSN's intent and activities are based on those of the Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research Incorporated (ACSPRI).

Network activities

Research methods courses
Seminar series
Workshops, including visiting international presenters.

Short course programmes have been held every Summer since 2005 – most recently, 5 five-day courses were run in February 2008; three at an introductory level and two intermediate. Browse these courses here. The Summer Programme for 2009 is currently in the early stages of development.

NZSSN has also hosted a number of seminars and workshops in advanced quantitative methods. Future events are notified via emails to members, on this website, and on the Virtual Research Environment. Also please sign up to this for further discussion on quantitative methods, simulation, and the like.

The network is funded as part of Professor Peter Davis's Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FRST) funded research programme.

Inaugural members

Inaugural members of the network are Prof Jack Vowles (Political Studies, UoA), Prof Peter Davis (Sociology, UoA), Prof Charles Crothers (Social Sciences, AUT) and Prof Alastair Scott (Statistics, UoA). Additional members are most welcome. For further information contact: nzssn@nzssn.org.nz.

Social Statistics Research Group

About the Research Group

The Social Statistics Research Group is based within the Department of Sociology (although now physically situated in the Centre for Pacific Studies), Faculty of Arts, The University of Auckland. The group comprises a team of researchers with a wealth of experience and expertise in a range of disciplines and research methodologies.

Currently SSRG holds a number of externally-funded grants, including from the Health Research Council (HRC), the Marsden fund and FRST. The research group has established collaborative links with Statistics New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, University of Otago’s Wellington School of Medicine, University of Canberra and Australian National University. SSRG collaborates on projects both nationally and internationally in the social sciences, health and statistics.

In addition, the group provides management and infrastructure for NZSSN.

Mission
To undertake and facilitate social science research of international standing that is both theoretically informed and empirically grounded, utilises a wide range of research methodologies, and has relevance to social policy.