Social Research
Childhood immunisation audience research and concept testing
Client:
Ministry of Health
Project Background:
Immunisation is one of the most cost effective means of preventing disease and improving health. Vaccines on New Zealand’s National Immunisation Schedule are offered free to eligible groups, and the National Immunisation Programme sets targets including 95% of children to be fully vaccinated at age two years. The Ministry of Health identified that immunisation coverage in Māori and Pacific children is lower than in other New Zealand children, and is keen to improve immunisation rates in these groups to prevent disease and reduce health inequalities.
Our Involvement:
The Ministry of Health engaged Litmus to undertake audience research amongst parents and caregivers who have not fully immunised their children aged 0-5 years. The research aimed to explore in detail the societal and cultural factors that face Māori, Pacific and Pākehā parents and caregivers and impact on the attitudes, decision-making processes and behaviours around immunisation. The project used:
- Qualitative research methods, grounded in Māori and Pacific research approaches and involving successful collaboration with Māori and Pacific colleagues in research design, gathering of data, and analysis and reporting
- A series of focus groups and individual interviews with parents and caregivers in five different DHBs.
- Message and strategy testing amongst target groups.
Key Outcomes:
Groups or ‘typologies’ of parents were identified from the research, and findings are being used by the Ministry to develop cost-effective strategies and targeted messages for increasing New Zealand’s immunisation rates. Further reading 
Effect of prison on prisoners’ health
Client:
National Health Committee
Project Background:
As there is little New Zealand-focused information about prisoners’ health-related prison experiences and continuity of care following release from prison, the National Health Committee developed a Health of Prisoners and their Families work programme. This work programme included commissioning a study to explore the effects of incarceration on prisoners’ and their families’ health and wellbeing.
Our Involvement:
Litmus undertook exploratory research with prisoners, whilst in prison and post-release, as well as with their families, to explore the effects of prison on prisoner health, and the effects of health outcomes on families. This involved:
- In-depth interviews across six prisons, with inmates and family members, including a mix of men and women, and prisoners who identify as Māori, Pacific and Pākehā
- Visits to two prison medical units and interviews with medical staff
- Interviews with Corrections Officers.
Key Outcomes:
The study provided indepth insights to support health policy and practice for prisoners, and wider government health and disability strategies. Further reading
Parental role in youth smoking uptake
Client:
Health Sponsorship Council (HSC)
Project Background:
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and ill-health in New Zealand. The HSC is a key agency in the New Zealand tobacco control sector. Its tobacco control programme aims to increase cessation-related activities, reduce smoking uptake and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke
Our Involvement:
In 2010, Litmus was commissioned to undertake research on parents’ and caregivers’ role in youth smoking uptake. Fieldwork involved a series of individual, mini-group, and family/whānau group interviews with Māori, Pacific and Pākeha/Other parents and caregivers of 10 to 16-year-olds.
Key Outcomes:
The research found that parents’ and caregivers’ concern about their child taking up smoking, and the extent to which they took active steps to reduce the likelihood of them smoking, differed according to the age of their child and whether or not they smoked themselves. The research findings informed the HSC’s plans for communications strategies and initiatives targeting parents and whānau.
Hidden economy
Client:
Inland Revenue Department
Project Background:
In its Compliance Focus for 2010-11, Inland Revenue (IR) announced an increased emphasis on targeting industries and individuals operating in the ‘hidden economy’ – those who choose cash transactions to avoid paying tax and don't honour their tax obligations.
Our Involvement:
Litmus worked collaboratively with IR researchers to conduct exploratory research to identify the relationship between ‘sense of place’ and attitudes towards paying tax and tax compliance. This highly sensitive project involved:
- Use of deliberative sampling and snowballing to network participants
- In-depth interviews and focus groups with people, from a range of income levels, ethnicities, age and gender
- Engagement with enforcement agencies.
Key Outcomes:
The research will be used to input into strategies to enhance tax compliance.
Wellington’s waterfront
Client:
Wellington City Council
Project Background:
In 2001 a framework was prepared for the Wellington Waterfront which set out a vision, principles and values intended to guide any future development of the space. Ten years after its introduction, Wellington City Council wished to determine whether the framework still reflected what is important to Wellingtonians as well as the role the waterfront plays in the success of the city as a whole.
Our Involvement:
Litmus was engaged to undertake a programme of qualitative research as part of a review of the framework, involving:
- Focus groups with a range of Wellingtonians of different ages, ethnicities and occupations
- In-depth interviews with key organisations involved with the Wellington waterfront.
Key Outcomes:
The research found that the values, principles and objectives of the Waterfront Framework are still as relevant today as they were ten years ago and confirmed for Council that the Framework remains on track.
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