Think Tanks
"Think tanks are policy institutes that carry out detailed research and provide analysis of, and information on, a range of policy ideas and programmes."
Think tanks. (2010). In D. Watts, Dictionary of American Government and Politics . Retrieved from http://search.credoreference.com/
Evaluating Think Tanks
- Explore the contributers and the About page of the think tank.
- Explore donations to think tanks using OpenSecrets.org's Donor Look-up.
- Consider any potential bias or point of view.
- Explore the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania's annual rankings .
- For further tips on evaluating resources, see the FAQ: How do I evaluate a source?
- Brookings InstitutionA "nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC." Search by topic and use the "Expert" tab by country or region to access articles by experts in a specific region.
- Pew Research CenterThe Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan "fact tank" that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It does not take positions on policy issues. Click on Datasets link to find statistical reports arranged by broad research areas and to download data sets. Select Topics link to search by subject or among polling questions.
- Rand CorporationA nonprofit research and analysis organization examining diverse issues worldwide with its headquarters campus in Santa Monica, CA.
- Southern Poverty Law Center"The SPLC is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality."
- Urban InstituteLocated in Washington, D.C., the Urban Institute is a nonprofit policy research organization. The Justice Policy Center (JPC) carries out nonpartisan research on crime, justice, and community safety.
- Vera Institute of JusticeAn “ independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit center for justice policy and practice” with a US focus, though it also has international projects.