COMPASS – Centre of Methods and Policy Application in the Social Sciences

The Centre of Methods and Policy Application in the Social Sciences (COMPASS) was established as a standalone research centre in September 2008. From 2004 to 2008 the staff had been operating under the name Social Statistics Research Group within the Department of Sociology. COMPASS is based within the Faculty of Arts of the University of Auckland and comprises a team of researchers with a wealth of experience and expertise in a range of disciplines and research methodologies.

As a multidisciplinary, leading edge research centre, COMPASS strives to:

• Deliver theoretically informed, empirically grounded and high quality research
• Support the development of social science research capability in New Zealand
• Foster research collaboration and academic collegiality
• Inform policy for the public good.

Along with the ISSP survey, COMPASS staff run the New Zealand Election Surveys every three years.