Key Capabilities:

• Flexible project design: Build and modify projects using the Online Designer or Data Dictionary.
• Multiple data collection methods: Collect information through online surveys, direct data entry, mobile tools, or printable forms.
• Custom forms: Create fields for text, multiple choice, checkboxes, dropdowns, file uploads, calculations, and more.
• Secure access: Access REDCap through a secure web browser and institutional authentication.
• Role-based permissions: Control what users can see and do based on their project responsibilities.
• Audit trails: Track data changes, user activity, record updates, and exports.
• Reports and exports: Create custom reports and export data to Excel, CSV, PDF, SPSS, SAS, Stata, and R.

Data Collection Methods: 

• Method 1 – Online Surveys: Collect participant responses through survey links, invitations, QR codes, or automated workflows.
• Method 2 – Direct Data Entry: Allow study team members to enter and manage data directly in REDCap.
• Method 3 – Mobile Data Collection: Collect data using supported mobile tools when appropriate for the project.
• Method 4 – Printable Forms: Generate paper versions of forms or surveys for offline workflows.

Project Design and Management:

REDCap provides tools to design and manage projects from development through production:

• Online Designer: Build and modify forms directly in REDCap.
• Data Dictionary: Create or modify project structure using Excel.
• Longitudinal Projects: Organize data by visits, events, or timepoints.
• Calendar and Scheduling: Manage project dates, visits, and scheduled activities.
• Multi-site Projects: Support collaboration across teams, sites, or institutions with controlled access.

 Best practice: Plan the project structure, forms, variables, user roles, and data collection workflow before moving a project into production.

Data Security:

REDCap provides tools to support secure, controlled, and traceable data management:

• Secure authentication: Access through approved institutional login processes.
• User permissions: Assign access based on each user’s responsibilities.
• Audit logging: Track data changes, user activity, exports, and other important actions.
• Access controls: Restrict access to records, forms, reports, and exports.
• Privacy options: Configure projects for anonymous or identified data collection, as appropriate.

Important: Project teams are responsible for ensuring that their project design, user access, data collection, and storage practices comply with applicable institutional, IRB, privacy, and regulatory requirements.

Data Management:

REDCap includes tools for reviewing and managing project data:

• Custom reports: Select fields, apply filters, and sort results.
• Ad hoc reporting: Create reports for monitoring, data review, or operational needs.
• Data exports: Export data in common formats, including Excel, CSV, PDF, SPSS, SAS, Stata, and R.
• De-identification: Apply export settings to remove or restrict identified data.
• Data quality tools: Identify missing, inconsistent, or potentially incorrect data.

Additional Advanced Features:

REDCap can support more complex data collection and research workflows through features such as:

• E-Consenting: Digital capture and storage of participant consent, whether conducted in person or remotely.
• Branching logic: Display fields based on previous responses.
• Calculated fields: Automatically calculate values from existing data.
• Field validation: Ensure entries follow expected formats, such as dates, numbers, email addresses, or phone numbers.
• File uploads: Attach documents or other files to records when appropriate.
• Automated Survey Invitations: Schedule invitations based on project events or logic.
• Alerts and Notifications: Send messages when specified conditions are met.
• Survey Queue: Control the sequence in which participants complete multiple surveys.
• Multi-Language Management: Support multiple languages within surveys, forms, and navigation.
• Randomization: Support appropriately configured random assignment workflows.