Policy Proposal Research Paper: Home

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What is "grey literature"?

The term refers to a motley array of policy writing, newsletters, speeches, urban plans, reports, working papers, government documents, white papers, and evaluations produced outside traditional publishing and distribution channels. It's typically created by practitioners in a field rather than academics.

Since grey literature isn't subject to the rigors of a formal fact-checking process or peer review, it's often extremely current. That said, it's essential to critically evaluate these sources before incorporating them into your research. Tread carefully!

Rely on these resources for authoritative texts of federal, state, and municipal laws, up-to-the-minute courts rulings, and links to non-US government documents.

The link below leads to an excellent LibGuide for locating and evaluating international NGOs.

Look here for data and statistics to guide your thinking, evaluate claims, inform policy, and buttress your arguments.

What is a think tank?

Per Merriam Webster, a think tank is "an institute, corporation, or group organized to study a particular subject (such as a policy issue or a scientific problem) and provide information, ideas, and advice." The next time you're reading the news, scratch the surface of an opaque name cited alongside an ideological or statistical claim. From the Brookings Institution to the US Chamber of Commerce, there's a good chance that source is indeed a think tank. (Indeed, a reasonable number of the resources gathered in this guide are think tanks!)

Is this a problem? It all depends on context.

Ideally, think tanks serve as nonprofit, nonpartisan, intellectual groups, conducting careful research, offering impartial analysis, and advocating for mutually advantageous solutions. Unfortunately, just as often, think tanks are beset by conflicts of interest rooted in funding sources and political biases.

If you wish to cite a think tank in your research, exercise due diligence. Use tax records and budget reports to determine how the organization draws funding. Conduct background checks on its executive board and any authors listed on its publications. Examine its internal structure, paying particular attention to mission statements and operating policies.

Don't allow a suspect citation to undermine your arguments! Keep tips offered by the likes of David Trilling and Andrea Baertl in mind as you work, and don't hesitate to call a potentially compromised source into question.