Qualitative Research Summary: Views Towards Higher Education in California
This research project was designed to explore overall views towards higher education in California, with a focus on how voters understand higher education financing and budgeting facts and issues, as well as how they react to specific message statements framing the challenge. Topics covered included:
- Opinions on higher education generally
- View of issues in higher education
- Discussion of tuition and access at California’s public higher education institutions
- Review of framing statements on the importance of improving public education
- Discussion of financing in higher education
- Understanding of financing basics
- Feelings towards whether current funding is sufficient or more is needed
- Assessment of the link between tuition and the state budget
- Feelings on accepting more out-of-state students
- Review of budgeting process, including a discussion of annual budget and multi-year budgets
- In Sacramento, Fresno and Bakersfield only:
- A handout on the current funding system was provided to assess reactions
- Statements were read on the current outcomes in higher education, such as the graduation gap between White and Latino students
The discussion guide was flexible and varied depending upon participant reaction to the problems facing higher education in California, the framing statements, and information about how higher education is financed. Over the course of the six nights of focus groups, the discussion guide was updated and revised, although the guide stayed very consistent overall. Also, some questions were added depending upon the group, such as asking business leaders specifically about the role of the business community in higher education.