ok I started a new game of xcom enemy unknown and was looking at a few numbers for research
the basic autopsies
sectoid, thinmen, (crystiloid)? and brute? seem to be on the order of ~30 man days of research each (you start with 5 scientists)
weapon fragments (the alien equipment auto self distructs when the alien is killed) 40 man days
alien alloys 40 man days
and a reasearch about xeno-biology (leading to unlocking interrogation) 40 research days
experimental warfare 60 research days
arc thrower (the in game stun weapon) 60 research days
outsider shard 60 research days (plot event to unlock the alien base mission and escalate to 2nd tier game phase)
ufo navigation 60 research days (unlocks some ufo options, and satellite nexus, nexus is 4 sats, instaid of 2 for your basic uplink) +1 for ajaciency on both
ufo power is 72 research days
beam weapons (unlocks laser pistols, laser rifles prereq precision and heavy lasers) 120 research days
precision lasers (laser sniper rifle, and laser shotgun? ) 84 man days of research
note strategic interrogations seem to have a DRAMATIC effect on research aka 50% research time reduction
interrogations get you the research credits
Beam Weapons — unlocked by Interrogate Sectoid
Plasma Weaponry — unlocked by Interrogate Muton, Muton Elite Autopsy
Basic Armor Technology — unlocked by Interrogate Floater
Armor Technology — unlocked by Interrogate Berserker
UFO Technology — unlocked by Interrogate Thin Man
Flight — unlocked by Interrogate Heavy Floater
Psionics — unlocked by Interrogate Sectoid Commander
Weapons Technology — unlocked by Interrogate Muton Elite
All Technology — unlocked by Interrogate Ethereal note this is a 25% bonus instaid of 50%
in this version creating a lab effectively gives a +20% research bonus, per, +10% if labs are ajacient
these are some numbers I extracted playing the game
edit added some more info pulled from the game