Scott's research focuses on formal political theory, political economy, authoritarian politics, and collective action. Specifically, the main line of his research studies the relationship between different coordination problems that share some common element, thereby isolating the role of factions in collective action. His previous research has focused on studying the conflict dynamic between two imperfectly coordinated groups to understand how the two coordination problems are interrelated, and hence, study strategic feedback that results through conflict. Scott also studies issues of political accountability in non-democratic environments, where government officials are sanctioned by non-electoral institutions.