Ask for - pedir uma  pesquisa 

 [geralmente a alguém, nesse caso ...ask somebody (the research) for something]

 Ex.: Marcio asked Dale´s a research on Rocket Science.

     Ask about - perguntar sobre...

     Marcio asked about the last Valeska´s  research.

     Sometimes, I have seen "ask for" with a certain "negative" bias, wether it is in a open or subtle way:

      a-) I have a lot of troubles, for example, this headache!

      b-) Serves you right, you drank like a fish yesterday.

      Depending of the context, you may have asked for the research...you came up with the topic...

   PP.