The first step is creating a new project.
When creating a project, REDCap typically requests:
- Project Title
- Project Purpose
- Project Notes
- Project Type
The project purpose should accurately reflect whether the database supports research, quality improvement, operational activities, or training.
Project Types
Classic Database
A classic database collects data using forms without longitudinal follow-up.
Examples:
- Laboratory inventory
- Cross-sectional surveys
- Facility assessments
Survey Projects
Data are entered directly by respondents through survey links.
Examples:
- Patient satisfaction surveys
- Community KAP surveys
Longitudinal Projects
Designed for studies involving repeated observations.
Examples:
- Clinical trials
- Cohort studies
- Follow-up studies
Longitudinal projects allow instruments to be linked to study events occurring at different time points.
Hybrid Survey + Data Entry Projects
The Online Designer
The Online Designer is the primary interface used to build instruments.
Within the Online Designer, users can:
- Create forms
- Add fields
- Reorder variables
- Create matrices
- Enable surveys
- Configure field properties
The Online Designer is ideal for small to medium projects because it provides immediate visual feedback during development.