Comments on: MPAA Bad, Universities Good http://paulcourant.net/2008/01/25/mpaa-bad-universities-good/ Paul Courant's blog about libraries, economics, public policy, and other stuff Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:56:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: pnc http://paulcourant.net/2008/01/25/mpaa-bad-universities-good/#comment-169 pnc Sat, 02 Feb 2008 21:18:24 +0000 http://paulcourant.net/2008/01/25/mpaa-bad-universities-good/#comment-169 Good point, Jeff. I would argue that administrative data is in a different category than research data, which is what MPAA purported to be using. That said, I would argue (and I think, agree with you) that universities, as well as other nonprofits and public institutions, should generally endeavor to be forthcoming about the data that they produce. There are certainly circumstances (e.g., contractual requirements) under which such institutions would not be open, but there should be a presumption in favor of openness, even for administrative data. Good point, Jeff. I would argue that administrative data is in a different category than research data, which is what MPAA purported to be using.

That said, I would argue (and I think, agree with you) that universities, as well as other nonprofits and public institutions, should generally endeavor to be forthcoming about the data that they produce. There are certainly circumstances (e.g., contractual requirements) under which such institutions would not be open, but there should be a presumption in favor of openness, even for administrative data.

]]> By: econjeff http://paulcourant.net/2008/01/25/mpaa-bad-universities-good/#comment-163 econjeff Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:05:44 +0000 http://paulcourant.net/2008/01/25/mpaa-bad-universities-good/#comment-163 "We also have a culture of openness, in which we allow others to examine and criticize our work." My sense is that this does not apply, for example, to our university's data on admissions by race. Isn't there some saying about motes and eyes that might apply here? Jeff “We also have a culture of openness, in which we allow others to examine and criticize our work.”

My sense is that this does not apply, for example, to our university’s data on admissions by race. Isn’t there some saying about motes and eyes that might apply here?

Jeff

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