Many organizations publish research reports on their websites. While these can be a valuable source of information, you should realize that many organizations have a political agenda. It's important to be aware of any biases that might exist, whether they are liberal or conservative. Some organizations make it clear what their underlying philosophy is either in the very title of the organization or through an "About Us" section or a "Mission Statement."

From http://www.heritage.org/about

For other organizations it may be less obvious so you'll need to explore the site further.

http://www.urban.org/

Some questions to ask might be:

• What other issues do they research?
• Do the policies or solutions they propose have a similar theme?
• Who heads the organization and what is their background?

If you are still unsure about the objectivity of an organization, consult with your instructor or a reference librarian.