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PPL 251: Equity in Public Policy

What Are Think Tanks?

A think tank is "an organization, institute, corporation, or group that conducts research and engages in advocacy in public policy." (Sourcewatch.org).

Most are non-profit, but some are funded by governments, advocacy groups, or corporations, and may derive revenue from consulting or research work related to their projects. They can be non-partisan or partisan, so pay attention to the goals of the organization when using the information they generate. 

When using information from a think tank:

  • Consider the biases that think tanks may be bringing to the discussion. 
  • Learn about the think tank by looking at the major contributors and the staff. 
  • Use evaluative sites to better understand the point of view the think tank may have. 
  • Ideally, contrast policy statements from two think tanks with vastly different perspectives on the issue. 

Finding Think Tanks

  • Harvard Kennedy School Think Tank Search: A custom Google Search engine that searches more than 600 think tanks for policy reports.
  • Find Policy: Find policy reports from 17 leading think tanks in the areas of climate, economy, development, foreign policy, health care, and public policy. Use the tabs (at the top of the page) to search in any one of the subject areas.
  • Google NGO Search: Use this Google Custom Search Engine to search for current online documents, publications, and websites from nongovernmental organizations. 

Evaluating Think Tanks