Psychologists — and some philosophers — spend a huge amount of time seeking grant money; I’m sure so also for many of the other sciences. I’ve become increasingly convinced that this is not the best way for leading researchers to be employing their time and talents. What if granting agencies simply selected (through a rotating committee of experts) a large number of established researchers and simply gave them research money without their having to ask, tracking only that it has been used for legitimate research purposes? There would still have to be ample room of course for unselected researchers to submit applications to obtain research funds and for researchers (selected or not) to submit applications for unusually large disbursements for especially worthy and expensive projects.

Wouldn’t that give a lot of people more time simply to do their work?

Originally posted here:
Against Grant Applications

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