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Research Proposal

Free research proposal template for pitching a market research, academic, or client research project — covers objectives, methodology, and budget.

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This free research proposal covers 1. Background and Problem Statement, 2. Objectives, 3. Scope, 4. Methodology, 5. Timeline with 11 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for founders, freelancers, and small business owners formalizing a business decision or agreement without paying a lawyer to draft it from scratch. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.

Template — click to edit

Research Proposal: [Project Title]

Prepared for: [Client/Institution/Funder Name] · Prepared by: [Researcher/Team Name] · Date: [Date]

1. Background and Problem Statement

[What gap, question, or business problem does this research address? Why does it matter now?]

2. Objectives

[List the specific questions the research aims to answer or the outcomes it aims to produce.]

[Objective 1]
[Objective 2]

3. Scope

[What is included and explicitly excluded from this research — population, geography, time period, or subject matter.]

4. Methodology

[The approach to be used — e.g. surveys, interviews, secondary data analysis, experiments — and why it fits the objectives.]

5. Timeline

Phase	Description	Target Date
[Phase 1]	[Description]	[Date]
[Phase 2]	[Description]	[Date]
[Phase 3]	[Description]	[Date]

6. Deliverables

[What the requester will receive at the end — e.g. a written report, dataset, presentation.]

7. Budget

[Estimated cost breakdown: labor, tools/software, participant incentives, other expenses. Total: [Amount].]

8. Researcher Qualifications

[Relevant experience or credentials of the person(s) conducting the research.]

*This document is provided as a general planning guide. If the research involves human subjects, confirm whether institutional review board (IRB) approval or informed consent procedures are required before proceeding.*

Edit directly in the box above. Download PDF anytime — the docstoc.io footer is always included and cannot be removed.

What's included

Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
8 standard sections: 1. Background and Problem Statement, 2. Objectives, 3. Scope, 4. Methodology, 5. Timeline, 6. Deliverables, …
11 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
Free to use — no account or signup required
Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)

Who this template is for

Freelancers & solo founders

Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.

Small businesses

Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.

Anyone reviewing before signing

Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.

Early-stage businesses

Getting the basics documented before things get more complex.

FAQ

Is this research proposal template really free?

Yes, completely free — view, edit, and download this research proposal as a PDF without creating an account.

What does this research proposal cover?

This business template includes 1. Background and Problem Statement, 2. Objectives, 3. Scope, 4. Methodology. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.

Is this legal advice?

No. Templates like this cover the common ground most businesses need, but they can't anticipate your specific deal terms, jurisdiction, or industry rules. Treat it as a first draft to build from, and get a business attorney's eyes on it before signing anything that matters.

Can I edit the wording?

Yes. All 11 placeholder fields and every clause are editable right on the page — change what doesn't fit, then download an updated PDF anytime.

Where can I find more free templates like this?

Browse more free business and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.

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