Research plan template

You’re a week into a research study and already feeling overwhelmed. Tasks are lost in email threads, no one knows the deadline for the literature review, and three different people are working on the same set of interview questions, each in a separate document. Does this sound familiar? This confusion is exactly why we created our research plan template: to organize and simplify the research process.

This research template is not just a static document; it serves as a dynamic, collaborative workspace. It transforms your scoping, data collection, and analysis into clear, actionable steps. With built-in sections, task assignments, deadlines, and dashboards, you can visualize every step of your research planning workflow.

Who benefits from research plan templates?

In our research design work, we have seen how quickly research planning can turn disorganized or inefficient. While generic research project plan templates may assist with documentation, they often fall short in promoting collaboration, accountability, and timely execution.

Asana's research plan template addresses these challenges. It’s designed for real-world research teams who require more than just a static document. With integrated task ownership, deadlines, timeline views, and communication tools, it transforms every aspect of your research plan into trackable and actionable progress.

This research plan template is ideal for:

• University students planning a thesis, dissertation, or capstone project.

• Academic researchers preparing grant applications or organizing research findings.

• UX and product teams auditing user experience and usability testing.

• Social media marketers conducting audience or competitor research.

• Educators and mentors guiding students through the research proposals and methodologies.

• Nonprofits and NGOs doing policy research, field studies, or program analysis.

If you've ever struggled with unclear objectives, disorganized notes, or missed deadlines, this research project template provides a clear roadmap for transitioning from planning to insights.

Why use Asana's research plan template?

One UX team told us they used to manage their research reports using Google Docs and a separate calendar, but no one checked or updated either after kickoff. Now, they use this Asana template to keep every stage of research at the forefront.

Here’s why this research project plan template works:

• Start with structure. This ready-to-use framework serves as a starting point that includes all essential components of a good research plan.

• Turn plans into action. You can assign tasks, set milestones and deadlines, and keep your team connected in one place

• Track progress easily. Use Timeline, Board, and Calendar views to monitor the progress of your research.

• Collaborate in real-time. Share updates, attach case studies and interview questionnaires, and leave comments all within one tool.

• Adapt to any type of research methodology. From user research to academic studies, customize this template for any kind of research method.

How to use this research plan template

This step-by-step guide is designed to help you move from research planning to execution with confidence. Whether you're a student, researcher, or team lead, each section of the template maps directly to a phase in your project, from defining objectives to reporting research findings.

To get started, duplicate the research plan template in Asana and customize it for your project. If you're looking for even more templates and project management solutions, be sure to visit our complete template library.

Step 1: Define your topic and audience

Begin by clearly stating your research topic and identifying the target audience. Explain why this topic is relevant and what prompted the study, whether it’s a business need, a policy issue, or an academic gap. Clarify the project scope so team members understand what you will and won’t cover.

This section sets the tone for the rest of your research project. It’s also the first place stakeholders look to understand what the research is about and why it matters. Keep it concise, but include enough context to guide decision-making.

Step 2: Add context with background information

Next, summarize the problem, opportunity, or trend that makes your research necessary. Reference any relevant case studies, market data, or organizational goals. This helps gain buy-in by demonstrating to stakeholders that your research is evidence-based and adds to an ongoing conversation.

If prior research studies have already addressed some angles of your topic, highlight where your work will add something new or address existing gaps.

Step 3: Set your research objectives

This section outlines what you intend to learn, prove, or explore. List specific research goals or questions that will guide your data collection and analysis. Your objectives should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Try framing these as research questions or hypotheses. For example, you might aim to uncover why users drop off during onboarding or test how different audiences respond to a policy message.

Step 4: Choose your research methodology

Detail the approach you’ll use to gather and analyze data. Choose a methodology that best suits your research objectives: qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. Describe the tools, techniques, and participants involved. This could include interviews, surveys, usability testing, field observations, or statistical modeling.

Ensure that you clearly explain your sampling method, sample size, and criteria for inclusion and exclusion. Also, clarify how you’ll process and interpret the data, whether through coding frameworks, software tools, or comparative analysis.

Step 5: Build your timeline

Use this part of the research plan template to turn research goals into a practical schedule. Divide the work into phases (planning, data collection, analysis, reporting) and estimate the time needed for each. Asana’s Timeline View helps you visualize dependencies, assign responsibilities and deliverables, and identify potential bottlenecks.

Allow time for approvals, delays, and any required ethics reviews or stakeholder check-ins. Include buffers where needed to prevent unexpected roadblocks from hindering your progress.

Step 6: Define your expected outcomes

Define what you hope the research will yield. Will it confirm or challenge existing assumptions? Provide guidance for a product decision? Be honest about both what you expect and what might remain uncertain.

Clarifying your expected outcomes early will help stakeholders understand the project’s value and plan for next steps.

Step 7: Plan your communications

Plan how you’ll share your findings. Define the audiences (e.g., internal team, leadership, clients, academic readers) and deliverable formats (e.g., reports, dashboards, workshops, presentations). Assign tasks for writing, editing, and presenting the final outputs.

Include communication channels like Google Docs, Slack, Zoom, or Notion. Clarify who will lead the dissemination process and when it will happen.

Asana research planning features

Features are built-in Asana tools that help you plan, manage, and track work more effectively. We’ve included a few that are particularly helpful for managing your research plan template. For even more functionality, visit our complete feature library.

Tasks and Task Assignees

Break down every part of your research plan into a trackable task. Assign each task to a team member with a due date so everyone understands their responsibilities and nothing falls through the cracks.

Subtasks

Divide larger tasks, such as usability testing or literature reviews, into smaller, actionable steps. Subtasks make complex work easier to track, delegate, and complete.

Asana AI

Use built-in AI to generate task summaries, clarify unclear instructions, or draft project updates. Asana AI reduces busywork and helps your team stay focused on high-value research activities.

Timeline View

Visualize your research phases as a timeline to gain a clear understanding of your project's overall structure. This helps you plan ahead, identify overlaps, and adjust for delays before they disrupt your schedule.

Custom Fields

Add custom labels such as research method, data source, or priority level to each task. This helps to filter, sort, and manage research activities more easily at scale.

Attachments and Comments

Store important documents, such as interview guides, consent forms, and raw data, directly on the task. Use comments to gather team feedback, flag blockers, or share observations without needing to switch tools.

Recommended Asana integrations

Asana app integrations connect your research planning template with the other tools your team already uses. These recommended integrations simplify the coordination and delivery of your research; however, many more options are available in our integrations hub.

Lucidchart: Visualize user flows, research frameworks, or organizational charts using Lucidchart’s diagramming tools.

Google Drive: Attach your research docs, interview recordings, and analysis spreadsheets directly to tasks.

Slack: Get task updates in Slack, or turn Slack messages into trackable tasks to avoid losing ideas in chat.

Zoom: Schedule and launch user interviews or team check-ins straight from your Asana task.

Dropbox: Upload PDFs, transcripts, or design mockups for stakeholder feedback, and keep version history aligned.

FAQs about research plan templates