Prior to launching the Think Tank Index, extensive
research was conducted to develop a comprehensive list of all think tanks in the
world. Relying on previous studies, think tank directories and databases, and
experts in the field, 5,465 institutions worldwide were identified for inclusion
in the study.
To create a more manageable list from which
to identify leading think tanks, an international group of scholars, think tank
executives, public and private donors, and policymakers were then asked to
nominate think tanks they consider to be the best in the world. These experts
used selection criteria such as a think tank's ability to retain elite scholars
and analysts; access to elites in policymaking, media, and academia; media
reputation; reputation with policymakers; scholarly output; and usefulness of
the organization's information, among others. This effort resulted in a list of
approximately 400 think tanks worldwide that were then included in the Think
Tank Impact Survey.
The Think Tank Impact Survey was then sent
to hundreds of think tank scholars, think tank executives, and government and
NGO personnel who fund think tanks. More than 150 responses from this panel of
experts were received. These respondents ranked the list of think tanks by
region and research area, the results of which are seen
here.
