NEW ZEALAND SOCIAL STATISTICS NETWORK COURSES

The New Zealand Social Statistics Network (NZSSN) is offering 1 four-day and 8 five-day short courses in Social Research Methods and Technology, during the three weeks from 9th to 27th February 2009. The courses will take place at the School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington. Could you please distribute the advert/flyer below via your generic distribution lists? We would greatly appreciate this!

The NZSSN summer programme is designed to cater to fundamental, changing and emerging research strategies, and to serve a wide variety of needs for training and professional development within the academic, public and private sectors. Courses cater not only to researchers in the social and political sciences, but also those in areas such as the behavioural sciences, medical and health sciences, epidemiology, policy research, education, economics, law, management, marketing, public relations and human resource management.

Our short courses are delivered by highly qualified instructors and previous courses have received outstanding reviews.

If you are aware of any other departments/companies that might be interested in the NZSSN summer programme, could you please advise me, and I will forward information directly to them. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to circulate the material yourself. If you have any queries or concerns, please feel free to contact me (contact details below). Many thanks in advance for your assistance. SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS AND TECHNOLOGY

- SHORT COURSE 2009 SUMMER PROGRAMME -

The New Zealand Social Statistics Network is offering the following short courses at the School of Government, Pipitea Campus, Victoria University of Wellington, 9th – 27th February 2009 Week One RESEARCH SYNTHESIS FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE: 9th – 12th February 2009 (4 days) David Gough, EPPI-Centre, University of London A range of approaches to research synthesis are covered. Systematic reviews can address a broad range of research questions, and research reviews, like all research projects, have to be appraised for strengths and weaknesses.

INTRODUCTORY ANALYSIS OF LINKED DATA: 9th – 13th February 2009 Professor D’Arcy Holman, University of Western Australia A course in the theory and practice of analysis of large sets of linked administrative data, mainly in the health area but with applications throughout the social sciences. Provides theoretical grounding and hands-on practical exercises.

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH TECHNIQUES: 9th – 13th February 2009

Dr Delwyn Goodrick, Program Evaluation Consultant

An introductory course consisting of lectures and practical workshops, designed for those with no background in research or with no previous experience with qualitative techniques of data collection and analysis. Week Two INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS: 16th – 20th February 2009 Dr Stephanie Budgett, Department of Statistics, The University of Auckland An introductory course in statistical techniques with an emphasis on those applicable to the social sciences, focusing on concepts rather than mathematics.

USING MIXED METHODS IN RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION: 16th – 20th February 2009 Dr Delwyn Goodrick, Program Evaluation Consultant Dr Gordon Emmerson, Victoria University of Technology, Australia An introductory course intended for current and emerging researchers who want to know more about using both qualitative and quantitative methods in their research activities.

DATA ANALYSIS IN SPSS: 16th – 20th February 2009

Associate Professor Brian Phillips, Swinburne University of Technology This course provides the beginner in quantitative data analysis with the basic requirements for analysis in an SPSS computing environment, focusing on the analysis of survey, administrative and/or census data. Week Three MIXED METHODS: FROM ANALYSIS TO PUBLICATION: 23rd – 27th February 2009 Dr Delwyn Goodrick, Program Evaluation Consultant Dr Gordon Emmerson, Victoria University of Technology, Australia Planning, execution and analysis are essential in conducting mixed methods research. Afterwards, the next important step is to take the data and develop an integrated presentation where findings are clear and key claims illuminated.

INTERMEDIATE STATISTICS: 23rd – 27th February 2009

Andrew Balemi, Department of Statistics, The University of Auckland An introduction to the statistical computing package R, a review of the concepts of statistical inference from Introduction to Statistics, and case studies in statistics.

INTRODUCTION TO NVIVO: 23rd – 27th February 2009

Dr Leonie Daws, Principal Consultant, Kihi Consultancies

A course designed for those familiar with qualitative research approaches and interested in using NVivo to assist with qualitative data analysis. The focus is on learning the NVivo data analysis toolkit through hands-on experience.