Official Statistics Research Series | Who to contact
About Official Statistics Research
Official Statistics Research (OS Research) is a programme facilitated by Statistics New Zealand that commissions and funds statistical and methodological research on the usefulness, reliability, coverage, and availability of the statistics produced within the Official Statistics System (OSS). Funding applications are welcomed from government departments in collaboration with other departments, academia and/or private researchers. Proposed projects should be primarily methodological and focus on the quality and effectiveness of official statistics. Also, they must fit within a number of priority areas set by OSS stakeholders each year.
Official Statistics Research objectives
The objectives of the research programme are to:
● carry out methodological and quantitative research on data to improve the OSS
● give an emphasis to research on the most important official statistics (Tier 1 statistics)
● support research that leads to an improvement in the utilisation of data within the existing stock of statistics
● maintain the confidence and trust of data providers in the security of their individual records and in the confidentiality of statistical outputs
● fund research into issues that impact on the suitability or appropriateness of official statistics in meeting the needs of users and producers of statistics
● ensure collaboration exists in the research work funded by the programme
● develop and mentor junior statisticians to build statistical capability in the OSS
● run a top quality research programme.
What happens to the research findings?
The final report must be peer reviewed and is then placed in the public domain. Where possible, the findings should be introduced into public discussion at seminars, including the Official Statistics System Seminar Series, expert workshops and conferences. OS Research strongly encourages researchers to submit articles to refereed journals. Final papers will be made available on Statisphere in the Official Statistics Research Series.
Changes to Official Statistics Research for 2010-2011
Statistics NZ recently postponed the tender process for Official Statistics research grants for 2010-2011 while it completed the prioritisation of all activity to fit within a constrained budget. The department's responsibilities across the Official Statistics System will call on all available resources. As a consequence, no funds are available for Official Statistics System research grants for 2010-2011 and the 2010-2011 programme has now been cancelled
For any queries please contact osresearch@stats.govt.nz or dial our freephone number: 0508 525 525.
If you wish to contact staff directly the details are:
Simon Thomson
Official Statistics Research
Ph: 04 931 4946
Email: osresearch@stats.govt.nz