Frequently Asked Questions

Why pay for a membership instead of just buying a course?

One-off courses can't answer the question you'll have next week, or the week after. Research doesn't happen in a single workshop. Neither does getting your NVivo project to behave. The membership is there so you've got somewhere to come back to when the next thing comes up — whether that's in three weeks or three months.

Couldn't I just learn this on YouTube?

You absolutely could — and YouTube's a great way to pick up a technique, or a bad habit. The trouble is you can't tell which advice is sound, and there's no one there to answer your follow-up question. What you get here is a logical learning path built by someone who's been teaching this material for over 25 years, with other researchers and Lyn around when you get stuck.

My university runs free workshops. Why pay for this?

Honestly, you might not need to — if your university's workshops cover exactly what you need, when you need it. Most don't. University training tends to be generic, one-off, and planned months in advance. Research Accelerator is specific, ongoing, and built for the sort of questions that come up at 9pm the night before your analysis needs to be finished.

I've never opened NVivo or SPSS. Will I be lost?

No. Lyn's been teaching complete beginners for over 25 years — she knows where people get stuck and how to explain things in plain English. The courses start from the beginning, and if something isn't clicking, you can always ask in the monthly Q&A. No question is too basic.

Do I have to turn up to anything live?

The live sessions are optional. Plenty of members are camera-off, chat-only, or just watch the recordings later. If you'd rather skip the live side entirely, LITE gives you everything on demand with no pressure to turn up anywhere.

I'm not in New Zealand. Will this still work for me?

Yes — we've got members around the world. Live sessions run on NZ time, but everything's recorded. The quarterly virtual retreats are designed to work across time zones, and the course library is available any time.

What if I'm too busy to use it?

Research Accelerator is designed for busy researchers like you. The community sessions are low-commitment: drop into a co-working hour when you can, watch Q&A recordings later, lurk in WhatsApp. The course library is there 24/7, ready when you are. You don't have to be visible or talkative. Many of our most valuable members just turn up and work quietly alongside others, whenever they can find a pocket of time.

What if it's not for me?

We think you'll love it, but if you're not getting value from it in the first month, let us know. We'd rather have happy researchers than unhappy members, so we'll sort something out together.

Are new courses included in my plan automatically?

Yes — as long as your membership is active, any new courses added to your plan tier are available to you at no extra cost.

What community features are included?

Depending on your plan, community features include: online message board, weekly group catch-ups, monthly live Q&A sessions, daily co-working sessions, WhatsApp group access, and quarterly research retreats.

How do the live sessions work?

Live sessions run via Zoom. You’ll find links and schedules in the member dashboard. Sessions are recorded so you can catch up if you can’t attend live.

Can I access the message board as a free member?

The message board is available on paid plans. Free members can access selected course content but community features require a Lite plan or above.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) via Stripe. Prices are in NZD unless otherwise specified.

How does annual billing work?

Annual billing charges you once per year at a discounted rate (equivalent to saving up to 2 months versus paying 3-monthly). You can switch between billing frequencies from your account page.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel anytime from your account settings. You’ll retain access until the end of your current billing period. We don’t charge cancellation fees.

What are the system requirements?

You will need:
Latest two versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge (desktop); iOS Safari, Chrome, or Samsung Internet (mobile)
JavaScript enabled
PDF plugin
Audio and graphics capability
Broadband internet (minimum 5Mbps recommended)

I’ve forgotten my password

Visit the Forgot Password page and we’ll email you a reset link. If you don’t receive it within a few minutes, check your spam folder or contact us.