Research Guides: Public Administration: Think Tanks

Think Tank Lists & Evaluation Criteria (Harvard)

Think tanks are institutions that generate public policy research, analysis and activity. Their output can include publications, reports, blogposts and journals. They can be independent or affiliated with other organizations. 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. You may also want to read the Wiki entry for each think tank to get an outsider's perspective on their goals. When available, I have used included WIki info in the descriptions below.

Harvard Kennedy School - Think Tank Search
A custom Google search of over 690 think tank websites. For the purposes of this search, think tanks are defined as institutions affiliated with universities, governments, advocacy groups, foundations, non-governmental organizations, and businesses that generate public policy research, analysis, and activity.
Evaluating Think Tanks
Harvard's Kennedy School Library criteria on how to evaluate think tanks and their research.

Think Tanks/Public Policy Research Institutes

Brookings Institution
"a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level."
Pew Research Center
Nonpartisan American fact tank based in Washington, D.C. Provides information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends shaping the United States and the world. It also conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis, and other empirical social science research. The Pew Research Center does not take policy positions, and is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
RAND Corporation
RAND aims for interdisciplinary and quantitative problem solving by translating theoretical concepts from formal economics and the physical sciences into novel applications in other areas, using applied science and operations research. It has existed since 1949.

NBER Working Papers (National Bureau Of Economic Research) This link opens in a new window
Working papers, data, and other research conducted by hundreds of top economic scholars. Studies employ many different methods covering many economic topics. Coverage: 1920s-present.

Think Tanks: Health Focus

Reports (NGO & Policy)/Grey Literature Search Engines

PAIS Index This link opens in a new window
Focused on public policy research and issues. Includes international journal articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, conference reports, and publications of international agencies. Does not include newspapers. Coverage: 1915-present.
ELDIS (international development) This link opens in a new window
Find global development research for policy and practice including policy documents, reports, grey literature from governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Organized by key themes (nutrition, environment, children, education, health, etc.) and country/region.