REDCap Homepage

REDCap at UConn Health

Let DATA lead the way.
Have your Research CAPture what you want,
how and where you need it.

REDCap, which stands for Research Electronic Data Capture, is a secure, web-based platform for building and managing online databases and surveys. It provides a streamlined process for rapidly creating and designing projects, with tools that can be tailored to many different data collection strategies.

REDCap supports online surveys, direct data entry, custom reports, automated exports, scheduling tools, and advanced project features such as branching logic, calculated fields, file uploads, data validation, survey invitations, and multi-language management.

Overview

REDCap is designed to help research teams create secure, structured, and flexible data collection projects without requiring advanced programming or database development experience.

Projects can be built directly in the browser using the Online Designer or developed offline using a spreadsheet-based Data Dictionary. REDCap can support a wide range of project types, including surveys, databases, longitudinal studies, multi-site projects, and operational data collection workflows.

In short: REDCap helps research teams collect, manage, export, and review data in a secure, customizable, and user-friendly environment.

Key Capabilities

  • Flexible project design: Create and manage projects online using the Online Designer or offline using a Data Dictionary in Microsoft Excel.
  • Multiple data collection methods: Collect data through online surveys, direct data entry, mobile tools, and printable PDFs.
  • Custom forms and instruments: Build forms using text fields, multiple choice fields, checkboxes, dropdowns, matrices, file uploads, calculated fields, and more.
  • Secure web-based access: Access REDCap through a secure login from any supported browser.
  • Controlled user permissions: Assign role-based access to help ensure users only see and do what is appropriate for their project role.
  • Audit trails: Track data changes, user activity, record updates, exports, and other project actions.
  • Automated exports: Export data to Excel, CSV, PDF, and common statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS, Stata, and R.

Data Collection Options

REDCap supports several data collection approaches depending on the needs of the project.

Method Description
Online Surveys Collect participant-entered responses using survey links, invitations, QR codes, or automated survey workflows.
Direct Data Entry Allow study team members to enter and manage data directly within REDCap forms.
Mobile Data Collection Collect data using mobile tools when supported and appropriate for the project workflow.
Printable PDFs Generate paper versions of forms or surveys for offline review or backup workflows.

Project Design & Management

REDCap provides flexible tools for designing and managing research projects from development through production.

  • Online Designer: Build and edit forms directly in REDCap.
  • Data Dictionary: Create or modify project structure using a spreadsheet-based format.
  • Longitudinal projects: Organize data collection across events, visits, or timepoints.
  • Project calendar: Track project-specific dates and scheduled activities.
  • Scheduling module: Support visit-based or event-based scheduling workflows.
  • Multi-site collaboration: Support projects involving multiple teams, sites, or institutions with controlled permissions.
Tip: Project builders should plan their forms, variables, user roles, and data collection workflow before moving a project into production.

Security, Access, and Compliance

REDCap includes built-in tools to support secure, role-based project access and transparent data management.

  • Secure authentication: Users access REDCap through secure institutional login processes.
  • User rights: Project teams can assign permissions based on each user’s project responsibilities.
  • Logging: REDCap maintains detailed logs of data changes, user activity, exports, record updates, and other key actions.
  • Data access controls: Access to forms, records, reports, and exports can be restricted by user role.
  • Survey and data privacy tools: Projects can be configured to support anonymous or identified data collection, depending on the project design.
Important: REDCap project teams are responsible for ensuring their project design, data collection methods, user access, and storage practices align with applicable institutional, IRB, privacy, and regulatory requirements.

Exports, Reports, and Analytics

REDCap includes tools to help users review, report, and export project data.

  • Custom reports: Create reports using selected fields, filters, and sorting options.
  • Ad hoc reporting: Build reports for project monitoring, data review, or operational workflows.
  • Data exports: Export data to Excel, CSV, PDF, SPSS, SAS, Stata, or R.
  • De-identification options: Apply export settings that remove fields marked as identifiers or limit access based on user rights.
  • Data quality tools: Use rules and checks to help identify missing, inconsistent, or potentially incorrect data.

Advanced Features

REDCap includes many advanced features that allow projects to be customized for more complex workflows.

  • Branching logic: Show or hide fields based on prior responses.
  • Calculated fields: Automatically calculate values using existing project data.
  • Field validation: Require responses to match expected formats, such as dates, numbers, email addresses, or phone numbers.
  • File uploads: Allow documents or files to be uploaded into records when appropriate.
  • Automated Survey Invitations: Schedule and send survey invitations based on project logic or events.
  • Alerts & Notifications: Send customized messages based on data entry, survey completion, or project-defined conditions.
  • Survey Queue and survey settings: Control how participants move through multiple surveys.
  • Multi-Language Management: Configure surveys, forms, navigation, and system text in multiple languages.
  • Randomization: Support random assignment workflows when enabled and appropriately configured.
Next step: Visit the REDCap Training Center and Guides & How-To pages to learn more about building projects, using surveys, applying logic, and managing advanced features.