General Social Survey (GSS)

The General Social Survey (GSS), formerly the New Zealand General Social Survey (NZGSS), is part of a suite of integrated household surveys run by Stats NZ. It is conducted under the Programme of Official Social Statistics. The GSS provides a cross-domain perspective of social wellbeing for the population of New Zealand. As such, it provides a basis for cross-domain analysis, not possible with other more narrowly focused surveys. It is also a basis for coherent monitoring of some key aspects of social wellbeing over time.

The GSS produces statistics about social wellbeing to inform decision-making by government agencies and the wider community. Data gathered includes objective information about circumstance, such as labour force status and income, as well as a personal assessment of different aspects of New Zealander's lives, such as life satisfaction, health, housing, human rights, and relationships. In particular, the survey provides a view of how wellbeing outcomes vary across different groups within the population.

Sample selection for this survey

The GSS uses a three-stage sample selection method, similar to our other household surveys. It is a stratified sampling method, which ensures the sample represents diverse characteristics of the whole country. The sample is selected to be representative of region, urban/rural area, ethnicity, and socio-economic status, and to ensure the desired precisions among these groups is obtained.

For the first stage, primary sampling units (PSUs) are selected from the Household Survey Frame (HSF). The HSF is the standard sampling frame we use to select samples and to manage overlap control for all our household surveys. The HSF lists PSUs with attributes determined by data from the census. We then assign PSUs to standard strata based on these attributes.

The second stage of sample selection consists of selecting eligible dwellings within the selected PSUs. In the third stage, we select one eligible individual within each selected household. The eligible individual is chosen at random from all eligible individuals in the household. The GSS is designed to provide estimates at a national level.

Once a household is selected to take part in the General Social Survey, any eligible individual (that is, someone aged 15 or over and who usually lives at that address) can complete the first part of the survey. For the rest of the survey, the respondent is then randomly selected from all eligible individuals in the household.