Abstract
Should nonprofit sector researchers adjust their research agendas for Capitol Hill? The answer is an unqualified yes, especially if Congress is meant as one of the audiences for such research. No think tank researcher working in the nation’s capital conducts studies without some inkling that his or her research will inform and influence policy discussions on the Hill. Importantly for social scientists, 100% of congressional staff members interviewed for this study acknowledged that ideology affects how they analyze research. Non-profit sector researchers should consequently observe five strategies to overcome ideological biases and improve their credibility on the Hill: (a) aggressively market briefing papers to congressional staff members, (b) focus on local rather than national studies, (c) share data with other think tanks, (d) send research findings to relevant government agencies, and (e) collaborate on joint initiatives with strange bedfellows.
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