The present work addresses the systematic evaluation of the influence of the incorporation of praseodymium (Pr) and cobalt (Co) ions in the bismuth ferrite (BFO) structure on its corresponding structural, ferroelectric and magnetic properties. The level of the doping ions varied from 0 to 4 at. %. Pure and doped BFO powders and thin films were synthesized by a modified sol-gel method. In the case of thin films, glycol was added to the main solvent to increase the viscosity of the precursor solutions and promote their adhesion onto platinum substrates. The development of the host BFO structure was confirmed by XRD analyses of samples annealed in air at 700 °C for 1 h (powders) and 500 °C for Pr and Co-doped BFO thin films. The incorporation of specific dopant ions played an important role in the ferromagnetic and ferroelectric behavior in the material. # 2012 The Japan Society of Applied Physics. © 2012 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.