Free, no sign-up to start: the plan opens as a live, editable Gantt chart. 12 tasks across 4 phases, about 21 weeks if every task runs in sequence.
What's in the template
Research question and aims
Literature review
Methods and sampling plan
Ethics approval
Pilot study
Revise instruments
Data collection
Data cleaning
Analysis
Write-up
Peer or supervisor review
Submission or presentation
| Phase | Task | Example duration |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Research question and aims | 5 days |
| Design | Literature review | 21 days |
| Design | Methods and sampling plan | 7 days |
| Design | Ethics approval | 21 days |
| Collect | Pilot study | 7 days |
| Collect | Revise instruments | 3 days |
| Collect | Data collection | 30 days |
| Analyze | Data cleaning | 5 days |
| Analyze | Analysis | 14 days |
| Share | Write-up | 21 days |
| Share | Peer or supervisor review | 10 days |
| Share | Submission or presentation | 1 day |
Durations are examples to replace with your own estimates, not benchmarks.
About this research project plan
Research projects need a pilot before full data collection and real time for analysis and write-up. This template plans both, and keeps ethics approval ahead of any contact with participants.
It suits an academic study, a capstone or an applied research project at a company.
Who it's for: Researchers, students, research assistants and UX research teams.
How to use it
- Open the plan. Click Open in the editor.
- Set your deadline. Set the first task's start date, then adjust durations until the submission or presentation lands on your deadline.
- Keep the pilot. The pilot and revision rows catch problems before full collection.
- Share with your supervisor. Send a read-only link.
Planning tips
- Write the methods section while collecting data, not after.
- Back up raw data before cleaning it.
- Leave time for reviewer comments before the deadline.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I create a research timeline?
- List phases from question to dissemination, estimate durations, link dependencies such as ethics approval before collection, and anchor the final deadline.
- Is there a thesis version?
- Yes. The thesis and dissertation template adds chapter writing and the defense.
- Is it free?
- Yes. Opening and editing the template is free.
Related templates
The free plan saves one project. Downloads (PDF, CSV) and more projects are on Solo, $12/month.