Projects in REDCap can be simple and benefit from a single survey, or very complex and benefit from multiple surveys and/or data entry forms to accommodate different types of participants for multi-site studies, longitudinal studies, or both. Regardless, it’s important to thoughtfully design your project and data capture instruments in advance.
Enabling Surveys
In your project, navigate to the “Project Setup” tab. Under “Main project settings”, click “Enable” next to “Use surveys in this project?”
Next, click “Online Designer” under “Design your data collection instruments”
Select “Enable” for each instrument you’d like to use as a survey in your project
After enabling a survey, you will be directed to the “Survey Settings” where you can design your survey and make changes to:
Font, text size
Survey color theme
Question display format and numbering
Expiration date
Enabling text-to-speech functionality
Survey instructions
Survey completion message
Enabling confirmation emails for participants
Response limit
Enabling save and return later functionality
Survey termination settings
Enabling auto redirect to next survey
Note: Public surveys are typically used for anonymous surveys or surveys collecting identifiable information, and are usually linked from a published website or emailed link. Public surveys allow for participants to fill them out more than once. To use a public survey, your survey must be the first instrument in your project.
Private surveys are typically used with a participant list in REDCap, and invitations are sent through email or text and responses are tracked. To use a private survey, the first instrument in the project is not enabled as a survey.
Survey Setup & Distribution Overview
Advanced Survey Information
Head over to the next section of REDCap 101, or head back to the table of contents.