SOME TERMINOLOGY
Think Tanks- "...an imprecise phrase used to describe a wide range of non-profit research organizations which engage in public policy analysis and research, and may/often advocate solutions." ( Lehman Social Sciences Library, Columbia University). Examples include Urban Institute, Brookings Institute, etc. See next definition as well.
Other Related Terms: Research Institutes, Policy Research Institutes, Foundations-organizations where staff conduct economic and social policy research that is "non-partisan," i.e., not politically affiliated. However, this does not mean the organization does not have a perspective on the issues, but it may be less directly aimed at getting a specific legislative or regulatory result. Foundations may also fund the research of others, e.g., Commonwealth Fund. And, there are research institutes affiliated with universities.
Interest Groups, Advocacy Groups-a collection of individuals who seek joint ends through political action and tend to have narrow goals focused around an issue or issue area. These can be: private groups, sponsored by corporations, private industry; non-profit or citizens groups, e.g., AARP, Children's Defense Fund; labor groups. The organizations may conduct research or use others research to support position, provide policy briefings, etc.
Bottom Line: Make sure you read the "about us" or mission statements of the organizations to understand what you are seeing! Context is important!
Think Tanks, Policy Research Centers, etc.
- Think Tanks DirectoryHarvard Kennedy School Library & Knowledge Services
- American Policy Directorythink tanks, advocacy groups, by topic
- National Special Interest Groups-Project Vote SmartOrganized by issue area; not comprehensive!
A sampling...
- Brookings InstitutionOne of the oldest think tanks in the United States, the Brookings Institution is an independent, nonpartisan organization that focuses on research and analysis of economic, foreign, and social policy issues. Among its divisions are the Metropolitan Policy Program and the Center on Children and Families.
- Cato InstituteThe Cato Institute is a non-profit policy research foundation that resides on the conservative/libertarian side of the political spectrum. Policy analyses, briefs and reports are available online.
- Center on Budget and Policy PrioritiesA policy institute and nonpartisan research organization that analyzes a range of government programs and polices, with an emphasis on those affecting low and moderate income people. Areas of research include low-income housing, poverty and income, welfare reform/TANF, food assistance, and health policies
- Center for American Progress: Immigration"The Center for American Progress is an independent nonpartisan educational institute dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action."
- Economic Policy Institute"The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank created in 1986 to include the needs of low- and middle-income workers in economic policy discussions."
- Henry J. Kaiser Family FoundationThe Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private organization focusing on the major health issues facing the nation. The website features publications and data.
- Rand CorporationRAND provides research and analysis covering many policy issues, including children, population and aging, the military, terrorism and homeland security, energy and the enivironment, education, health and health care.
- Urban InstituteThe Urban Institute conducts research that informs policy across a broad range of topics including children, health policy, housing, welfare reform, immigration, cities and metropolitan regions, the nonprofit sector, and tax policy.
- PolicyArchive-Center for Governmental Studies"a comprehensive digital library
of public policy research containing
over 30,000 documents."
Public Opinion
- Roper iPollThe Roper Center iPOLL is a compilation of over 500,000 questions from public opinion polls on a broad range of topics, 1935 to present.
- Gallup Poll BriefingWeekly summary/analysis of latest Gallup Poll findings. 2002+
- Pew Research Center for the People and the Press"The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press is an independent, non-partisan public opinion research organization that studies attitudes toward politics, the press and public policy issues." Public opinion surveys back to 1997. See Topics tab.
- Polling the NationsPolling the Nations is a compilation of the full-text of the questions and responses from over 14,000 national, state, and local surveys conducted since 1986 by more than 1,400 polling organizations in the United States and more than 100 other countries.