Build a Data Collection Instrument

One of the first and most important tasks to complete when building your project is to create Data Collection Instruments. Building instruments primarily consists of creating a series of data entry points known as Fields. The step-by-step instructions below show how to begin creating a basic demographics instrument using the Online Designer which allows building Instruments using point-and-click functionality. The instructions are followed by a video tutorial that shows how to build the entire example demographics and links to guides to build individual Field Types.

\uD83D\uDCD8 Building a Data Collection Instrument

1. Select Designer from the left hand menu or go to Project Setup and select the Online Designer button under Design your data collection instruments.

2. Click “Form 1” under Instrument name to open the Online Designer tab for the first instrument.

3. The first field is the Record ID Field and by default has a Variable Name [record_id] and Field Label “Record ID.” The text for both of these can change, however, the first field of the first instrument will always be considered the Record ID Field to the REDCap system.

   1. For example, you could change the text to other general text such as variable name [study_id] and Field Label “Study ID” or Variable Name [participant_id] and Field Label “Participant ID.”

   2. You can also pick project specific terms. For example, if my study name is “Randomized Clinical Trial in Heart Failure” my Variable Name could be [rct_hf_id] and Field Label “Randomized Clinical Trial in Heart Failure Participant ID.”

   3. The Record ID Field should always be on the first event

4. Select the “Add Field” button to create the first data entry point after the Record ID field. An “Add New Field” dialog box will open. Define the Field Attributes to customize each field

   1. Required Field Attributes

      1. Field Type - choose from the dropdown menu

      2. Variable Name - short name with only lower case letters, numbers, and underscores. REDCap uses this variable name to attach data entered to this field to specific Records IDs.

   2. Optional Field Attributes

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