Our team of researchers have experience and expertise in a range of disciplines and social science research methodologies. COMPASS has a broad health and wellbeing focus, uniquely positioning it to address research questions related to the impacts of key societal changes.

COMPASS uses three main methodological approaches in its research.  First, COMPASS analyses whole population administrative data to understand equity and wellbeing, particularly using data from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI).  Second, COMPASS analyses survey data to understand New Zealanders’ attitudes, views, and wellbeing status. COMPASS runs annual social attitudes surveys as one of ~50 countries involved in the International Social Survey Programme (www.issp.org), thus enabling the views of New Zealanders to be compared to other countries.  Third, COMPASS assesses the impact of policies using ‘micro-simulation’ – simulating the life-course development of individuals over time.