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Research Information Sheet

Use a Research Information Sheet template to make your document workflow more streamlined.

What a Research Information Sheet does

A Research Information Sheet is a structured record for collecting and confirming information about a research project, study, or investigation. It can organize project identifiers, responsible parties, participant references, milestones, approvals, and supporting notes before review or signature. With signNow, upload the document, place or detect fillable fields, assign recipients, send it for signing, and store the completed copy with its audit trail. Electronic execution depends on signer intent, consent, attribution, and record retention under ESIGN and applicable state law; the sheet does not replace study-specific approvals or privacy obligations.

Who completes this research form

Research teams

Research coordinators can use the sheet to collect study identifiers, investigator details, participant references, approval dates, and project status before routing it for review or signature.

Healthcare groups

Healthcare organizations can use it for research-related records containing protected health information only after confirming HIPAA applicability, executing a business associate agreement when required, and limiting access to authorized personnel.

Business types that benefit from this form

Research Information Sheets help organizations capture consistent study information, approvals, and signatures while keeping each project record easier to review.

  • Solo research consultants can use a Research Information Sheet to collect study details, participant identifiers, project scope, and approvals in one structured record before sharing findings with clients.
  • University research teams can use the sheet to coordinate investigator information, study milestones, participant consent references, and supporting documentation across departments without relying on disconnected email attachments.
  • Enterprise research departments can standardize Research Information Sheets across projects, route completed records for review, and preserve signed versions with audit trails for internal governance and later reference.

These tasks are executed by both individual contributors and centralized administrators depending on organizational policy and required controls.

Features that support research records

signNow connects structured form completion with routing, signing, audit evidence, and controlled storage for Research Information Sheet workflows.

Structured capture

Capture study identifiers, project details, participant references, and approval information in one structured Research Information Sheet instead of coordinating multiple untracked attachments.

Guided signing

Upload the sheet to signNow, place signature and date fields, and route it to the designated reviewer without rebuilding the document manually.

Reusable templates

Use reusable templates for recurring studies so required sections, signer roles, and routing instructions remain consistent across research projects.

Audit evidence

The completed document can retain signer actions, timestamps, and document history, helping reviewers assess how the Research Information Sheet was executed.

Controlled access

Role-based access and controlled sharing help limit exposure when a sheet includes participant identifiers, confidential study information, or regulated data.

Centralized records

Completed records can be stored with related documents and retrieved when project teams need to confirm approvals, signatures, or submitted information.

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How to complete this form

Use this sequence to prepare the Research Information Sheet, route it to the right people, and preserve evidence of completion.

  • Upload the sheet:

    Upload the Research Information Sheet into signNow.
  • Prepare the fields:

    Review detected fields or place fields manually.
  • Assign recipients:

    Assign each field to its signer or reviewer.
  • Send for signature:

    Send the prepared sheet through signNow.
  • Store the record:

    Review the completed PDF and audit trail.

Recommended workflow configuration

Configure the Research Information Sheet workflow around signer identity, document evidence, protected information, and controlled access.

SettingRecommendation
Authentication methodEmail verification with SMS OTP
Signature typeTyped or drawn electronic signature
Audit trailCapture timestamps and signer actions
Document retentionSix years for PHI under 45 CFR §164.530(j)
EncryptionTLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256 encryption

What the audit trail records

A signNow audit trail connects the Research Information Sheet to signer activity, document events, and evidence that can be retrieved after completion.

01

Signer authentication:

Authentication events identify the signer associated with the Research Information Sheet.
02

Timestamp capture:

Each signing action receives a recorded date and time.
03

Document history:

The completed file is tracked through document-history events.
04

Document hashing:

Hashing helps reveal changes to the signed document.
05

Tamper evidence:

The completed record is sealed against unnoticed alteration.
06

Audit export:

Administrators can retrieve and export the audit trail for review.

Retention practices for research records

Preserve the signed Research Information Sheet with its supporting evidence, using the applicable study, contract, privacy, and records-management requirements.

Define the retention rule first

Export the completed Research Information Sheet and its audit trail together so reviewers can connect the signed record with signer identity, timestamps, and document history. Apply your organization’s approved retention schedule rather than assuming one federal period covers every research record.

Archive the complete record securely

Keep the original completed PDF, certificate of completion, and audit-trail export in a restricted repository. Use access controls that separate research staff, reviewers, and administrators, especially when the sheet contains participant or health information.

Apply HIPAA retention carefully

If the sheet contains protected health information, retain it for six years from creation or the last effective date under 45 CFR §164.530(j). Confirm whether state law, contract terms, or study policy requires longer retention.

Verify audit-trail exports

Schedule periodic exports before a project closes and verify that downloaded files open correctly. Record the export date, responsible administrator, repository location, and disposal approval in the project’s records-management log.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Organizations seek alternatives when they need different pricing models, stronger native automation, simpler bulk affidavit workflows, or more flexible identity-verification options than those available in a legacy envelope-based vendor.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Security controls for research data

Transport encryption:

TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Stored data:

AES-256 encryption at rest

Security assurance:

SOC 2 Type II certified

Information security:

ISO 27001 certified

Health information:

HIPAA compliant with BAA

Privacy frameworks:

GDPR and CCPA compliant

Integrations for research workflows

Connect Research Information Sheet workflows with Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Drive, Box, and NetSuite to route records, coordinate review, and preserve completed documents.

Salesforce
Procore
Zapier
Microsoft Teams
Hub spot
Box
Microsoft

Research Information Sheet troubleshooting

These answers address field detection, signer routing, electronic consent, plan limits, protected health information, and legal exceptions for this form.

Upload the source file again and check whether the fields are embedded, flattened, or image-based. signNow can place fields after upload, but image-only pages may require manual positioning and review before sending.

Use signNow’s recipient routing to assign each signature field to the correct person. Review role order and email addresses before sending, because an incorrect assignment can route research information to the wrong reviewer.

For consumer-facing collection, provide the ESIGN disclosure required by 15 U.S.C. §7001(c), including paper-record rights and electronic-access procedures. Configure signNow’s workflow so consent is captured before the Research Information Sheet is signed.

The signNow Business plan is listed at $8 per user per month with annual billing and includes audit trails and templates. Subscription plans include 100 signature invites per user annually; confirm overage terms before high-volume use.

signNow states that HIPAA compliance requires a business associate agreement. If the Research Information Sheet contains protected health information, execute the BAA and apply an approved access and retention policy.

A completed Research Information Sheet is not automatically valid for every purpose. ESIGN and UETA support electronic records when intent, consent, attribution, and retention are established, while wills, court filings, and other listed exceptions remain excluded.

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