---
title: "Research plan template"
source: 18F Guides
source_url: https://github.com/18F/guides
licence: CC0-1.0
domain: engineering
subdomain: 18f-guides
date_added: 2026-04-25
---

**About this template:** A research plan is a living document. Sections can be added and removed as needed, and details added as you have them.

[Read more about how to write a research plan](/ux-guide/research/plan/#writing-a-research-plan)**.**

# **Title of research plan — [Name of effort] [method of research] [target participants]**

**In the title:** A good descriptive title includes the thing you're studying, the method you're using, and if appropriate, the target audience. Example: GSA.gov redesign readability interviews with senior citizens.

## **Authors/stakeholders**

**In this section**: List the names and any other relevant information (organization, titles, contact information) for people designing your research. If you're getting stakeholders' buy-in for the plan, add their details as well. Remember, a diverse research team leads to better research outcomes.

- [Name], [title/org]

# **Context**

**In this section:** A maximum five lines description of relevant helpful context — this could be what led to the study, the history of the project, any details about the partner or stakeholders.

## **Past research**

**In this section:** If there were past research efforts, provide a summary and links to any available assets.

# **Research goals and questions**

**In this section:** Document why you are doing research, and the questions the research will answer.

# **Research methods**

**In this section:** Note the method or methods of research you'll be using. If this document is going to be shared outside the research team, consider including a description or links to a 18F Methods card.

# **Roles and responsibilities**

**In this section:** These typical roles and descriptions should be adjusted to fit your research effort. An activity can be assigned to an individual, or led by an individual with team participation.

| Activities | Description | Who |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ***Before sessions***  ||--- || --- |
| **Research design**| Formulating an overall research plan and plans for individual sessions, including interview guides |  |
| **Screening and recruiting** | Determining who we want to learn from, and inviting them to participate |  |
| **Coordinating and scheduling** | Managing research logistics (times, places, tools, people) |  |
| ***During sessions*** |  |  |
| **Interviewing and moderating** | Facilitating the interview or activity, generally use pre-prepared guides; joins debrief afterwards |  |
| **Note taking and recording** | Documenting what happens during the research; joins debriefs afterwards |  |
| **Observing** | Listening to interviews, observing usability tests, etc.; joins debriefs afterwards |  |
| **Subject matter expert** |  |  |
| ***After sessions*** |  |  |
| **Synthesis** | Analyzing, finding patterns and themes across research activities |  |
| **Clean-up/ de-identifying** | Making sure our notes reflect anonymity and PII standards, and can be understood by people who didn't join the interview |  |
| **Reporting** | Communicating progress and findings from research to teammates, partners, and stakeholders |  |

# **Timeline**

**In this section:** A rough-estimate timeline helps manage expectations around the study execution. Remember to give more time than you think you need for analysis and synthesis (a safe estimate is twice as long as you give to data collection).

| Activity | Estimated time to complete | Dates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Research study design and planning | [# days] | [A reasonable date range] |
| Recruiting | [# days] | [A reasonable date range] |
| Data collection
When the team will perform the individual research sessions or interviews. | [# days] | [A reasonable date range] |
| Analysis and synthesis | [# days] | [A reasonable date range] |
| Report delivery |  | [specific date] |

# **Participants and recruiting**

**In this section:** Document who you're hoping to talk to during the research. This can include information about the participants, how you're planning to recruit, logistical considerations, etc.

# **Issues for awareness**

**In this section:** Note if there are particular [legal](/ux-guide/research/legal/), [ethical](/ux-guide/research/ethics/), accessibility, [bias](/ux-guide/research/bias/), or [power](/ux-guide/research/share-power/) concerns raised in the research plan how the team will mitigate them.

# **Important links**

**In this section:** Keep a running list of links to key research documents, like your [interview roster](/ux-guide/research/plan/#set-up-a-roster) and any shared folders or assets.
