The REDCap software is centered around projects for data capture.

Customers create projects to collect their data. Each project is a standalone unit that functions as its own distinct data collection tool for a specific study protocol or non-research data collection effort.

No programming or technical experience is needed to stand up a REDCap project. At OHSU, personnel build and manage their own projects with guidance and help from the REDCap Team.

This section focuses on the both the administrative activities and processes, as well as the technical components of software, that are related to starting, building, and managing a REDCap project over the course of its lifespan.

Core Project Operations

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Project Lifecycle

The REDCap project lifecycle consists of the following main stages or phases, which REDCap refers to as project statuses: 

  • Development 

    • Related Core Operation = Create a New Project
    • Development is the first phase of the project lifecycle, which is designated for building and testing the project.
    • When a project is created it is in Development.

  • Production

    • Related Core Operation = Move a Project to Production
    • Production is the second phase of the project lifecycle, which is designated for real data collection.
    • When the project team is ready to start real data collection and has the study IRB approval, the team is required to move their project to Production.
    • Production Changes
      • Related Core Operation = Production Changes
      • Production change is an activity undertaken during the Production phase of the project lifecycle. 
      • Project teams makes changes to their data collection forms and surveys while the project is in Production by placing their project into Draft Mode.

  • Analysis/Cleanup (optional)

    • Related Core Operation = Project Closure
    •  Analysis/Cleanup is an optional phase of the project lifecycle intended for data cleanup activities.
    • The project team is control moving their project to Analysis/Cleanup and can also moving their project back to Production at their own discretion.

  • Completed

    • Related Core Operation = Project Closure
    • Completed is the final phase of the project lifecycle, which is designated for terminating the use of REDCap.
    • The REDCap Team marks a project as being completed at the conclusion of the study.

  • Deleted (not used for real data collection projects)

    • Projects used for real data collection are not deleted from REDCap.
    • Related Core Operation = Test projects for testing some production changes
    • Only projects used for testing production changes and projects used for training staff are deleted.
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