Common Shortcomings of Grant Proposals - From R. V. Smith, Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Sciences. New York: Plenum, 1990, p. 243, Table 122. Copyright 1990 by Robert V. Smith. Reprinted with permission. Smith's table was constructed in part from E.M.Allen, Why are research grant applications disapproved?, Science, vol. 132, pp. 15321534, 1960. Copyright 1960 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Reprinted with permission.