Research & Evaluation

NZCDI is a research based institute. This means the services, professional development, programmes, wellbeing and consultation services we provide to our clients are underpinned by sound and current theoretical and practice research.  This ensures the solutions we provide for you work in the real world. 

Most of our clients are engaged in providing excellent learning experiences to their staff, clients or students. We use robust evaluative research to support these clients and to ensure their services and work meet their needs. 

NZCDI Research Philosophy

NCZDI view quality research as:

  • Philosophically aware and open;

  • underpinned by theory or supportive of its development;

  • informed by past research evidence while seeking new knowledge;

  • ethnically and culturally respectful;

  • valid in practice and respectful of practice findings;

  • significant;

  • robust;

  • critical;

  • ethical;

  • and disseminated to those who can benefit from it in an accurate, accessible and honest manner.

Examples of Past Research

Books

1.     Bishop, R. & Graham (now Stevenson) S.F. (1997). Implementing Treaty of Waitangi Charter Goals in Tertiary Institutions: A Case Study. Published by the Higher Education Development Association as a Monograph, Victoria University Press. Paper No. 4 December, P. 1-38

Papers

2.     Graham, S. F. (2001). Testing Graham’s Teaching Conditions Theory. Australia New Zealand Dance Research Society Journal. Vol. 1 P. 21-37

3.     Graham, S. F. (2001). Graham’s Teaching Conditions Theory. (Internationally Referred) Congress of Research on Dance (CORD) Transmigratory Moves Conference Proceedings, New York University, New York.

Book Chapters

4.     Stevenson, S. F. (2014). The Organisation. In Edited Book by Mary Panko Developing a Research Culture, Auckland: Dunmore Press.

5. Schofield, Anne, Lisa Walker, and Nikki Going. (2011). Supporting academic success to minority group students in a private tertiary establishment. Retrieved from Wellington, New Zealand.

6.     Stevenson, S. F. (2015).Work-integrated Learning (WIL) experience approach in New Zealand. In Edited Book by Sally Brown Learning, Teaching and Assessment in Higher Education: Global Perspectives. London: Palgrave Teaching & Learning.

Research Report

7.     Fielden, Kay, Susan F. Stevenson, Nikki Going, Suzanne Grant, and Kristyl Zagala. (2020), Whare Tapa Rima – The Five-Sided Home: a best practice holistic learner support model project. Ako Aotearoa Norther Hub Project Colloquium. Auckland: Ako Aotearoa.

https://ako.ac.nz/assets/Knowledge-centre/Whare-Tapa-Rima/Whare-Tapa-Rima-Guidebook.pdf

Digital Film

8.     Fielden, Kay, Susan F. Stevenson, Nikki Going, Suzanne Grant, and Kristyl Zagala. 2020, in Digital Video. Whare Tapa Rima. Ako Aotearoa Norther Hub Project Colloquium. Auckland: Ako Aotearoa. https://ako.ac.nz/knowledge-centre/whare-tapa-rima/whare-tapa-rima-the-five-sided-home/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ3WsRfD9h0

9.     Stevenson, S. F., Zagala K.C. (2021). Future Institutional and Student Services Leadership Challenges: Implementing a Holistic Whare Tapa Rima – Five-Sided Home Model. In: Huijser H., Kek M., Padró F.F. (eds). Student Support Services. University Development and Administration. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3364-4_11-1

Universal Wellbeing Model Research Papers & Resources

10. Schofield, A., Walker, L., & Going, N. (2011). Supporting academic success to minority group students in a private tertiary establishment. Wellington, Ako Aotearoa.

11. Fielden, K., Stevenson, S. F., Going, N., Grant, S. & Zagala, K. (2020). Whare Tapa Rima – The Five-Sided Home: A best practice holistic learner support model project. Ako Aotearoa National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence. https://ako.ac.nz/assets/Knowledge-centre/Whare-Tapa-Rima/Whare-Tapa-Rima-Guidebook.pdf

12. Fielden, K., Stevenson, S. F., Going, N., Grant S., & Zagala, K. (2020). In Digital Video. Whare Tapa Rima. Ako Aotearoa Norther Hub Project Colloquium. Auckland: Ako Aotearoa. https://ako.ac.nz/knowledge-centre/whare-tapa-rima/whare-tapa-rima-the-five-sided-home/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ3WsRfD9h0

13. Stevenson, S. F. & Zagala, K. (2021). Future institutional and student services leadership challenges: Implementing a holistic Whare Tapa Rima – Five-sided home model. In Huijser H., Kek M., Padró F. F. (Eds). Student Support Services. University Development and Administration. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3364-4_11-1

14. Stevenson, S. F. (2022). Pastoral Care Perspectives and Māori Health Models. New Zealand 2022 Health, Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Conference, 25th and 26th August 2022 (Presentation, PowerPoint - SlideShare). https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

15. Stevenson, S. F. (2022). An Introduction to the Universal Wellbeing Model and Evaluation Tool. New Zealand 2022 Health, Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Conference, 25th and 26th August 2022 (Presentation, PowerPoint - SlideShare). https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

16. Stevenson, S. F. (2022). An Introduction to the Universal Wellbeing Model and Evaluation Tool. New Zealand 2022 Health, Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Conference, 25th and 26th August 2022 (Paper). https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

17. Stevenson, S. F. (2022). Research Underpinning the Universal Wellbeing Model. Hamilton,    New Zealand: New Zealand Curriculum Design Institute. (Paper) https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

18. Stevenson, S., Fielden, K., Gurung, M., & Zagala, K. (2022). Universal Wellbeing Model Practitioner Guidelines Paper. Hamilton, New Zealand: New Zealand Curriculum Design Institute. (Paper) https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

19. Stevenson, S. F. (2022). Innovative Wellbeing Evaluation Tool Empowers Practitioners. International Mental Health Conference, 5th to 7th September 2022 (Internationally Peer Reviewed Presentation, PowerPoint - SlideShare). https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

20. Stevenson, S. F. (2022). Self-Determination of Positive Wellbeing Outcomes through Indigenously based Evaluation Tools. Indigenous Wellbeing Conference 24 to 25 October 2022. (Internationally Peer Reviewed Presentation, PowerPoint - SlideShare). https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation  

21. Stevenson, S. (2023). Introduction to the Universal Wellbeing Model & Universal Wellbeing Evaluation Tool for Evaluators. Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluators Association: Online Presentation. 26th July 2023. (Presentation, PowerPoint - SlideShare).

22. Stevenson, S. (2023). Introduction to the Universal Wellbeing Model & Universal Wellbeing Evaluation Tool for Counsellors. New Zealand Association of Counsellors National Conference Kia Mau Kia Tika Kia Puawai 2023, 28th July 2023: Keynote Presentation. Wellington. (Presentation, PowerPoint - SlideShare)

23. Stevenson, S. (2023). Implementing the evidence-based Universal Wellbeing Model in the Workplace. Australia New Zealand Mental Health Association Workplace Mental Health Symposium, 8th September 2023: Peer Reviewed Presentation. Gold Coast Convention Centre, RACV Royal Pines, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia. (Presentation, PowerPoint - SlideShare Pending)

24. Stevenson, S. F., Fielden, K., Gurung, M, & Zagala, K. (2023). The universal wellbeing model: A theory designed to transform praxis. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 34(4), 101-133. https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

Publication Pending

25. Stevenson, S. F., Gurung, M., & Zagala, K. (2023). Emergence of the Universal Wellbeing Model- A Journey from Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness to International Relevance and Applicability. (Internationally Peer Reviewed Journal Paper)

26. Stevenson, S. F. (2023). The Universal Well-being Model – Change Guidance for Leaders Pursuing Well-being, Achievement and Equity (Internationally Peer Reviewed Journal Paper)

Posters

Stevenson, S. F. (2022). Universal Wellbeing Model Poster V1. Hamilton, New Zealand: New Zealand Curriculum Design Institute. (Poster) https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

Stevenson, S. F. (2022). Universal Wellbeing Model Poster V2. Hamilton, New Zealand: New Zealand Curriculum Design Institute. (Poster) https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

Stevenson, S. F. (2022). Universal Wellbeing Evaluation Tool Poster. Hamilton, New Zealand: New Zealand Curriculum Design Institute. (Poster) https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

Stevenson, S. F., Fielden, K., Gurung, M., & Zagala, K. (2022). Universal Wellbeing Practitioner Guidelines Poster. Hamilton, New Zealand: New Zealand Curriculum Design Institute. (Poster) https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/research-evaluation

Current Research Projects

NZCDI is currently focussed on and pursuing the following Wellbeing Research Programme; it consists of 3 investigations. Outcomes of the research will be made available through Information Sheets and Peer Reviewed Research publication.

Wellbeing Research Plan 2022 to 2024

  • Project 1: Emergence of the Universal Wellbeing Model

    Project Questions

    • What are the current theoretical wellbeing models?

    • How are these theoretical wellbeing models supported from the literature?

    • What wellbeing practices are supported by these current models?

    Commencing Research Project Summary

    Project timelines

    Planned start date: 1st of June 2022

    Planned end date: 15th of September 2022

    Expected Peer Reviewed Publication: December 2022

    The Universal Wellbeing Model (UWM)

    (Social, Physical, Intellectual, Cultural, Emotional & Spiritual = SPICES)

    (Stevenson, Gurung, & Zagala, 2022)
  • Project 2: Wellbeing Evaluation Tool Trials

    Project Questions

    • How effective is the Wellbeing Evaluation Tool in identifying wellbeing supports?

    • How effective is the Universal Wellbeing Tool in identifying variables that challenge individuals’ wellbeing?

    (Aiming for 1,000 participants from at least 5 diverse populations)

    Commencing Research Project Summary

    Project timelines

    Planned start date: 1st October 2022

    Planned end date: 1st October 2023

    Expected Peer Reviewed Publication: From October 2023

    Universal Wellbeing Evaluation Tool (UWET) Structure

    (Stevenson, Gurung, & Zagala, 2022)
  • Project 3: Universal Wellbeing Plan Impact Evaluation

    Project Question

    • How effective was the wellbeing enhancement plan generated post evaluation with the wellbeing evaluation tool?

      We would like research funding support this phase.

      Where populations we will work with can pay we will charge to support the research but many for example the first 5 groups above have limited funding for the Wellbeing Evaluations, and we have limited funds to progress and make widely available.

    Commencing Research Project Summary

    Project timelines

    Planned start date: January 2024

    Planned end date: December 2026

    Expected Peer Reviewed Publication: From December 2024-2026