Social Research
Young People and Infringement Fines
Client:
Ministry of Justice
Project Background:
The Minister for Courts announced a review of the ‘Infringement System’ in March 2004. A key issue for the review was the ability of individuals (particularly young people under the age of 25) to accumulate significant amounts of infringement fines that had little prospect of being paid.
Our Involvement:
Litmus conducted a qualitative study of young people aged 15-25 with infringement fines by undertaking face-to-face in-depth interviews with 20 young people and 10 of their partners, parents or other family members.
Key Outcomes:
Insight was gained into youth attitudes towards the acquiring of fines, as well as the financial impact that these fines pose upon reaching adulthood.
Understanding the Experience of Debt
Client:
Ministry of Social Development
Project Background:
To develop a more coherent basis for the establishment and collection of debt by State agencies, the Ministry of Social Development, Inland Revenue, Housing New Zealand and the Ministry of Justice collaborated to better understand their clients’ experience of debt.
Our Involvement:
Litmus conducted in-depth qualitative case studies with Maori, Pacific and Pakeha debtors from across New Zealand by:
- preparing a detailed research report describing debtors’ lives, which drew on information collected via 24 case studies
- presenting findings to policy makers from across government
- incorporating case study insights into the design of a quantitative survey
- developing and pre-testing the quantitative questionnaire.
Key Outcomes:
The cross-departmental research team was provided with a holistic understanding of the lives and experiences of New Zealanders with debts to multiple State agencies.
Building Strong Communities
Client:
Wellington City Council (WCC)
Project Background:
The Local Government Act 2002 (the Act) mandates local government to promote social well-being in their communities. One way to promote this is through fostering strong communities. Traditionally, WCC has fostered strong communities by providing community-based assets and services for use by the local community.
Our Involvement:
Litmus conducted eight focus groups with Maori, Pacific, Pakeha and Asian people, young people, older adults, and refugees and migrants to explore the nature and types of communities to which Wellington residents belong, what Wellington residents value about their community and what Wellington residents value about WCC’s locally provided services and assets.
Key Outcomes:
The findings indicate that participants belong to multiple communities of interest, with only a loose connection to geographical communities (eg suburbs). The research also provided recommendations for building and strengthening communities through the provision of community-based assets and wider activities.
Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand Audience Research
Client:
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Project Background:
Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand (SPINZ) is a service of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, which has been contracted by the Ministry of Health to collect, manage and disseminate suicide prevention information to diverse audiences. As part of its contract with the Ministry of Health, SPINZ must prioritise its audiences. Litmus undertook research to assist SPINZ to identify and prioritise its audiences and the information needs of those audiences.
Our Involvement:
Litmus was commissioned to engage with SPINZ’s stakeholders to understand stakeholder views on SPINZ’s key audiences and suggested priorities of focus. We:
- conducted in-depth interviews with 20 stakeholders from across SPINZ’s audience groups, including government officials, health promoters, academics, researchers and non-government organisations
- sought feedback from key staff via an internal emailed questionnaire
- assessed three international suicide prevention services (website scan and emailed survey)
- worked with SPINZ to develop a proposed outcomes framework and draft indicators.
Key Outcomes:
A tiered audience hierarchy and future recommendations to help shape strategic direction were identified, as well as a proposed outcomes framework and related indicators to monitor progress.
Learning Outcomes of Te Papa’s Education Resources
Client:
Te Papa
Project Background:
Te Papa is developing e-learning as part of a major strategic objective to make the Te Papa experience accessible to all New Zealanders as an education resource.
Our Involvement:
Litmus has evaluated a number of Te Papa’s e-learning initiatives, including Aainaa-Reflections and Dinosaurs from China, on whether they meet their learning outcomes and objectives. A multi-method research approach was adopted, including an online forum, user consultation, web data analysis, and key stakeholder feedback.
Key Outcomes:
Te Papa gained a more in-depth understanding about how teachers and students were using the e-learning initiatives to enrich their Te Papa experience both online and offline. The research offered direction on how to enhance future e-learning initiatives.
Barriers to Independence
Client:
Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)
Project Background:
In line with its strategies to support long-term claimants’ return to independence, ACC sought a greater understanding of the barriers preventing claimants from attempting to pursue a less-dependent lifestyle.
Our Involvement:
Litmus was contracted to identify the range of barriers that exist for claimants via face-to-face interviews with a range of long-term claimants.
Key Outcomes:
Litmus established a high level of trust with participants, enabling 'soft' barriers such as lack of self-confidence and self-esteem, fear of rejection, relationship stress, health problems etc to be uncovered.
Uptake of the State Sector Retirement Savings Scheme
Client:
State Services Commission (SSC)
Project Background:
In July 2004, the Government launched the State Sector Retirement Savings Scheme (SSRSS). The SSC was responsible for managing the implementation of SSRSS in 2004, working with government departments’ human resources (HR) teams through a distributed communication and marketing campaign.
Our Involvement:
Litmus was engaged to undertake research with public service employees who were eligible to join SSRSS. We conducted:
- scoping meetings with the SSC, other SSRSS stakeholders and HR managers
- in-depth qualitative interviews with staff at all levels from a range of public service organisations, as well as quantitative telephone interviews with over 200 employees.
Key Outcomes:
The SSC was provided with an understanding of employees' rational and emotional triggers and barriers to joining SSRSS, and their reaction to the 2004 launch campaign. This information has been used to inform future SSRSS marketing and communication strategies.
Stakeholder Engagement
Client:
Victoria University
Project Background:
Victoria University has diverse stakeholders with different levels of engagement with the University. Victoria University sought to broaden its understanding of its engagement with stakeholders and stakeholder perceptions of the University.
Our Involvement:
Litmus was commissioned to engage with stakeholders of Victoria University to understand key perceptions of Victoria University and the nature of stakeholders’ engagement with the University. We:
- conducted 33 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders from diverse sectors including government agencies, Crown Research Institutes, local government and affiliated partners, members of Parliament, Wellington city businesses, secondary school staff, university staff and students
- developed and undertook an online survey distributed to around 500 stakeholders of Victoria University
Key Outcomes:
The report provided Victoria University with evidence on how stakeholders perceive the University and a more in-depth understanding of its stakeholder engagement contributing to the development of its stakeholder engagement programme.
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