3 Vocabulary
Chapter Leads: Thomas Wilson
3.1 General
These general terms for beginners reading Chapters 1 through 8.
3.1.1 Username
The credential required to login to REDCap. This username will be one of three things: OUHSC username, OU username, or a table-based username for non-OUHSC collaborators. Tabled-based accounts are created and maintained by OUHSC REDCap admins.
3.1.2 Project
A REDCap project is a self-contained entity used for collecting and managing data. Many people use the term, database, interchangeably. REDCap users may have access to or may have created multiple REDCap projects.
3.1.3 Server
A REDCap server hosts a collection of projects. Identifying the correct server is the first step to navigating to your desired project.
At OU, the two production servers are https://bbmc.ouhsc.edu and https://redcap.ouhsc.edu.
The first is the newer and larger instance, while the second one (sometimes called the “CoPH server”) is being phased out and no longer accepting new projects.
Beginning users will rarely encounter OU’s “development” server, which is https://redcap-dev-2.ouhsc.edu.
3.1.4 Record
… distinguish w/ event and participant …
3.1.5 Participant
A participant is sometimes synonymous with record, but not always…
3.1.6 Data Collection Instrument (DCI or Instrument)
An electronic form used to collect data. An instrument can have one of two configurations: an data collection form or a survey.
3.1.7 Data Collection Form
Instrument used to collect data from behind the REDCap login. To enter data using a data collection form, individuals must login to REDCap using their username and password.
3.1.8 Survey
Instrument used to collect data without a REDCap login. Surveys are most often used to collect data from research participants and/or patients. Surveys can have a unique link for each participant or a generic public survey link.
3.1.9 Event
A REDCap event is a nested inside a record, typically to facilitate longitudinal data collection within the same participant.
3.1.10 User
Many types of REDCap users can be interact with a single project. See Section 12.2.1 for a list of common roles, ranging from a participant responding to a public survey to a project administrator.
This chapter was started in October 2024. If you have suggested modifications or additions, please see How to Contribute on the book’s welcome page.