Planning & Scheduling
Research Plan
MyPMP
QMS Template
Objectives
Scope
Approach
| Milestone | Owner | Due | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
βοΈ
Free to try β your work auto-saves in this browser.
Saving to the cloud (sync across devices) is a paid feature. Unlock Research Plan for $1/mo, or get everything with membership ($9/mo or $99/yr).
πΊοΈ Planning & Scheduling
Auto-saved in your browser Β· β members can white-label & sync across devices
About the Research Plan template
A Research Plan sets out the questions you're trying to answer, the methods you'll use to answer them, and the timeline and resources needed to complete the work. It keeps a study focused and defensible by linking each objective to a specific method, sample, and deliverable before data collection begins. Whether for academic, market, or user research, it prevents scope creep and makes findings reproducible.
It's part of My QMS, MyPMP's Quality Management System: fill it in online, personalize it with your name and logo, then export a clean, branded PDF. Your work auto-saves in your browser.
When to use a Research Plan
- βΈKicking off a market or UX study and needing to align stakeholders on scope and methods
- βΈApplying for grant funding or ethics/IRB approval that requires a documented methodology
- βΈCoordinating a multi-person research team across interviews, surveys, and analysis phases
- βΈScoping a discovery phase before product or feature development
What a good Research Plan includes
- βResearch questions and objectives, tied to the decision they will inform
- βMethodology: qualitative, quantitative, or mixed, with rationale for each method
- βSample or participant criteria, recruitment approach, and target sample size
- βTimeline with phases, milestones, and responsible owners
- βData collection and analysis approach, including tools and success metrics
- βEthics, consent, and data handling considerations plus known risks and limitations
What's inside this template
The interactive form above gives you:
ObjectivesScopeApproachA table of Milestone, Owner, Due, StatusRisks & dependencies
Tips & common mistakes
- π‘Map every research question to a specific method and data source so nothing is asked without a way to answer it
- π‘Define how you'll know the research is 'done' β target sample size or saturation point β to avoid endless data gathering
- π‘Agree the decisions the findings will drive up front; research with no downstream action wastes the budget
How it works
- 1. Fill it in β type directly into the fields, tables and sections above.
- 2. Brand it β add your organization name and logo with the Branding button.
- 3. Export β print to PDF, or become a member to white-label and sync across devices.
FAQ
What is a Research Plan?οΌ
A Research Plan is a structured document that defines the objectives, questions, methods, sample, timeline, and analysis approach for a study before it begins. It ensures the work stays focused and that findings can be traced back to a clear methodology.
How is a research plan different from a research proposal?οΌ
A proposal argues why the research should happen and secures approval or funding, while a research plan is the operational blueprint for how you'll actually run it β the methods, participants, schedule, and analysis steps.
What methodology should I choose for my research plan?οΌ
Match the method to the question: use qualitative methods like interviews for exploratory 'why' questions, quantitative methods like surveys for measuring scale and frequency, and a mixed approach when you need both depth and generalizable numbers.
Make it yours β $9/mo or $99/yr
Membership unlocks white-label export (remove the MyPMP footer), cloud sync across devices, plus all apps & ScheduleX.
See membershipMore Planning & Scheduling templates