New citizens take the oath of allegiance at the Grand Canyon. By Grand Canyon National Park
[Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic], Source: Wikimedia Commons
Think tanks are non-governmental organizations which specialize in research and policy analysis of current social issues. The groups make much, if not all, of their reports and policy proposals available on their websites. Think tank members can influence public policy through their research, policy papers, and advice to political figures.
Literature reviews are a particularly useful resource when doing research. They address the issues involved in a particular question and the debates among scholars. They map out the intellectual terrain succinctly and give you the major landmarks in terms of key authors and significant titles for greater understanding.
