Tip Sheet for Using Think Tanks
- Writing about think tanks and using their research: A cautionary tip sheet
This tip sheet aims to help researchers ask critical questions before citing a think tank’s research or experts.
Think Tank Search Engines
- Find Policy
A search engine that applies your search only to reputable think tanks. Includes places that do rigorous policy research across the political spectrum.
- Think Tank SearchProduced by Harvard Kennedy School. Think Tank Search searches the websites of institutions that generate public policy research, analysis, and activity. These sites are affiliated with universities, governments, advocacy groups, foundations, and non-governmental organizations.
Selected Think Tanks
- Brookings Institution The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC.
- The Pew Charitable Trusts The Pew Charitable Trusts is an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization that uses evidence-based, nonpartisan analysis to solve today's challenges.
- Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. Pew conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research. The organization does not take policy positions.
- RAND Corporation The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest.
- Cato Institute The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization — a think tank — dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.
- Urban Institute The Urban Institute is a Washington D.C.-based think tank that carries out economic and social policy research to "open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions".