Faculty Lecture Series: Investing in the Public Good - presented by David Tandberg, PhD

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The lecture provides valuable insights into the complexities of state higher education funding, drawing on the speaker’s extensive research and practical experience. Tandberg presents a compelling argument that performance-based funding, despite its intuitive appeal, often fails to achieve its intended outcomes. He supports this with empirical evidence from his own studies and discusses the political and institutional factors that influence funding decisions. The argumentation is solid, as he acknowledges the limitations of his research and the challenges of translating research into policy. He also highlights the importance of considering unintended consequences and the need for rigorous evaluation of policy interventions.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The lecture demonstrates scientific rigor through the speaker’s use of established theoretical frameworks, rigorous research methods, and peer-reviewed publications. Tandberg references his own published work and that of colleagues, and he discusses the methodological innovations that have advanced the field. The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on the public good aspect of higher education funding. The lecture is well-structured and grounded in evidence, though it is primarily a personal narrative rather than a comprehensive literature review. The speaker’s credibility is enhanced by his academic and professional achievements.

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on state funding for higher education as a public good, drawing on the speaker's career.

8/10

The lecture is based on the speaker's extensive research and experience in higher education policy, with references to peer-reviewed publications and data. The speaker is a recognized expert, and the content is well-structured and evidence-based, though it is a personal account rather than a systematic review.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 02:00Introduction by Dr. Bill Branson, highlighting Dr. Tandberg's background and the lecture topic.
• 05:00Tandberg begins his lecture, discussing his origins and early interest in higher education policy.
• 10:00Explanation of new institutionalism and its application to higher education policy research.
• 15:00Introduction of Elinor Ostrom's framework and its influence on Tandberg's dissertation.
• 20:00Discussion of data collection challenges and the innovation of panel data in higher education research.
• 25:00Findings on the determinants of state funding, including the role of interest groups and political factors.
• 30:00Transition to his work in state government and the emergence of performance funding.
• 35:00Explanation of quasi-experimental methods, specifically difference-in-differences, and their application to performance funding.
• 40:00Presentation of findings that performance funding often does not work and can cause harm.
• 45:00Discussion of the backlash from advocacy organizations and the importance of collaboration in research.

• State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) — Tandberg mentions his role as senior vice president at SHEEO, which is a key source of data on state higher education funding.
• Elinor Ostrom's Institutional Analysis and Development Framework — Tandberg discusses using Ostrom's framework for his dissertation research.
• Inside Higher Ed — Tandberg mentions that his research on performance funding was covered and criticized in Inside Higher Ed.

• SHEEO State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) Report — Provides data on state funding for higher education, which aligns with Tandberg's research focus.

• Lumina Foundation