{"id":4620,"date":"2026-03-10T11:56:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T15:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/?page_id=4620"},"modified":"2026-05-22T11:10:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T15:10:27","slug":"repeating-surveys","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/services\/informatics-core\/redcap\/guides-how-tos\/repeating-surveys\/","title":{"rendered":"Repeating Surveys"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"top\" class=\"redcap-repeating-surveys-guide\" style=\"max-width: 1100px;margin: 0 auto;line-height: 1.7;color: #1f2937\">\n<div style=\"text-align: right;margin-top: 14px\"><a href=\"\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/services\/informatics-core\/redcap\/\" style=\"background: #eef6f8;color: #1f2937;padding: 6px 12px;text-decoration: none;border-radius: 20px;font-size: 0.95em\">Back to REDCap Homepage<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right;margin-top: 14px\"><a href=\"\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/services\/informatics-core\/redcap\/guides-how-tos\/\" style=\"background: #eef6f8;color: #1f2937;padding: 6px 12px;text-decoration: none;border-radius: 20px;font-size: 0.95em\">Back to Guides<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #64C7C9;border: 1px solid #bae6fd;padding: 18px 20px;margin: 24px 0;border-radius: 6px\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Data Collection Strategies for Repeating Surveys<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.08em;margin-top: 0\">Collect recurring survey data in REDCap using repeating instruments, repeating events, Automated Survey Invitations, Alerts &amp; Notifications, and the Survey Queue.<\/p>\n<p>This guide will help you choose the right setup for your study and avoid common configuration issues.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background: #eff6ff;border-left: 6px solid #2563eb;padding: 14px 16px;margin: 22px 0;border-radius: 4px\"><strong>Core Concept:<\/strong> One Record \u2192 Multiple Survey Instances \u2192 Repeated Data Over Time<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #f0f9ff;border: 1px solid #bae6fd;padding: 16px 18px;margin: 24px 0;border-radius: 6px\">\n<h2 style=\"margin-top: 0\">On this page<\/h2>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0;padding-left: 20px\">\n<li><a href=\"#overview\">Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#comparison\">Comparison of Methods<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#decision\">Decision Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#repeat-types\">Repeating Instruments vs Events<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#survey-queue\">Survey Queue<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#examples\">Example Configurations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#workflow\">How Instances Work<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#testing\">Testing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#exporting\">Exporting Data<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#troubleshooting\">Troubleshooting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#checklist\">Checklist<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"overview\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">Overview<\/h2>\n<p>Repeating surveys allow participants to complete the same survey multiple times, with each submission stored as a separate instance.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Repeating Instruments:<\/strong> One form repeats multiple times<\/li>\n<li><strong>Repeating Events:<\/strong> Entire visit\/event repeats (longitudinal only)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #fef2f2;border-left: 6px solid #dc2626;padding: 14px 16px;margin: 20px 0;border-radius: 4px\"><strong>Important:<\/strong> These methods can be combined. Choose based on workflow\u2014not technical preference.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"comparison\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">Comparison of Methods<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px;background: #f3f4f6\">Method<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px;background: #f3f4f6\">Best For<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px;background: #f3f4f6\">Email Required?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\"><strong>Repeat Survey Button<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">Multiple entries in one sitting<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\"><strong>Automated Invitations (ASI)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">Scheduled recurring surveys<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">Yes (or SMS\/voice)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\"><strong>Alerts &amp; Notifications<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">Conditional workflows<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\"><strong>Survey Queue<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">Participant-driven access<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div style=\"background: #eff6ff;border-left: 6px solid #2563eb;padding: 14px 16px;margin: 20px 0;border-radius: 4px\"><strong>Best practice:<\/strong> The most common setup is <strong>Repeating Instrument + Automated Survey Invitations<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"decision\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">Decision Guide<\/h2>\n<div style=\"background: #f9fafb;border: 1px solid #e5e7eb;padding: 16px;border-radius: 6px\">\n<p><strong>Ask yourself:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do participants complete surveys on a schedule? \u2192 <strong>Use ASI<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Do surveys depend on conditions? \u2192 <strong>Use Alerts<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Do participants return anytime? \u2192 <strong>Use Survey Queue<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Do they enter multiple entries at once? \u2192 <strong>Repeat Survey Button<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"repeat-types\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">Repeating Instruments vs Events<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px;background: #f3f4f6\">Feature<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px;background: #f3f4f6\">Repeating Instrument<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px;background: #f3f4f6\">Repeating Event<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">What repeats<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">Single survey<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">Entire visit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">Complexity<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">Simple<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d5db;padding: 10px\">More complex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div style=\"background: #fff7ed;border-left: 6px solid #ea580c;padding: 14px 16px;margin: 20px 0;border-radius: 4px\"><strong>Recommendation:<\/strong> Use repeating instruments whenever possible.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"survey-queue\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">Survey Queue<\/h2>\n<p>The Survey Queue provides a central page where participants can access available surveys.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background: #eff6ff;border-left: 6px solid #2563eb;padding: 14px 16px;margin: 20px 0;border-radius: 4px\"><strong>Best practice:<\/strong> Use for long-running studies where participants return regularly.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"examples\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">Example Configurations<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Daily Survey:<\/strong> Repeating Instrument + ASI<\/li>\n<li><strong>Medication Log:<\/strong> Repeating Instrument + Repeat Button<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conditional Follow-Up:<\/strong> Alerts + [new-instance]<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clinical Visits:<\/strong> Repeating Event<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"workflow\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">How Instances Work<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Participant completes survey \u2192 Instance #1<br \/>\nCompletes again \u2192 Instance #2<br \/>\nCompletes again \u2192 Instance #3<\/p>\n<div style=\"background: #f0fdf4;border-left: 6px solid #16a34a;padding: 14px 16px;margin: 20px 0;border-radius: 4px\">Think of each instance as a new row of data tied to the same participant.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"testing\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">Testing<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Create test records<\/li>\n<li>Submit multiple instances<\/li>\n<li>Verify invitations<\/li>\n<li>Confirm new instances are created<\/li>\n<li>Test participant experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #eff6ff;border-left: 6px solid #2563eb;padding: 14px 16px;margin: 20px 0;border-radius: 4px\"><strong>Best practice:<\/strong> Test the full workflow\u2014not just the survey.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"exporting\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">Exporting Data<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Each instance = one row<\/li>\n<li>Include repeat instance fields<\/li>\n<li>Long format is typically preferred<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"troubleshooting\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">Troubleshooting<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Same instance opens:<\/strong> Missing <code>[new-instance]<\/code><\/li>\n<li><strong>Too many emails:<\/strong> Check ASI timing<\/li>\n<li><strong>No new rows:<\/strong> Repeating not enabled<\/li>\n<li><strong>No repeat button:<\/strong> Not enabled in settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #fef2f2;border-left: 6px solid #dc2626;padding: 14px 16px;margin: 20px 0;border-radius: 4px\"><strong>Common issue:<\/strong> Using repeating events when a repeating instrument would be simpler.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"margin: 30px 0\" \/>\n<h2 id=\"checklist\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px 16px;border-radius: 6px\">Configuration Checklist<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Choose repeating type<\/li>\n<li>Enable repeating<\/li>\n<li>Select delivery method<\/li>\n<li>Configure logic\/timing<\/li>\n<li>Use [new-instance] if needed<\/li>\n<li>Test thoroughly<\/li>\n<li>Validate export structure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Back to REDCap Homepage Back to Guides Data Collection Strategies for Repeating Surveys Collect recurring survey data in REDCap using repeating instruments, repeating events, Automated Survey Invitations, Alerts &amp; Notifications, and the Survey Queue. This guide will help you choose the right setup for your study and avoid common configuration issues. Core Concept: One Record [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4679,"featured_media":0,"parent":2190,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-30 02:48:33","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4620"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4679"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4620"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4988,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4620\/revisions\/4988"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}