# Your first data collection

> Let's set up your first data collection through the Prolific API - create a study, find your participants, and launch it programmatically.

This guide assumes you have already created a prolific account and generated an API token. If you haven't done this yet, please follow the steps in
[Getting started with Prolific's API](./overview).

You will also need to [top up your wallet](https://intercom-help.eu/prolific-research/en/articles/445242-adding-money-via-card-payment) in order to complete this guide. The default settings will cost \$1.50/£1.50.

With that done, you're ready to start your first data collection!

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Get your researcher ID

    To create Prolific surveys you need to know your researcher ID. You can get this by making a call to the user
    endpoint.

    <RunnableEndpoint endpoint="GET /api/v1/users/me/" readonly={["examples"]} />

    Make a note of the user `id` from the response as you will need this in the next step.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Create the survey

    Next let's create a survey. This survey will host the multiple choice questions you want to ask your
    participants.

    You will need to provide your researcher `id` from step 1 in the `researcher_id` field.

    <RunnableEndpoint endpoint="POST /api/v1/surveys/" readonly={["examples"]} />

    You can find more details on Prolific Surveys in the [Surveys
    documentation](https://researcher-help.prolific.com/en/articles/445141-survey-builder).

    Make a note of the `_id` from the response as this is the identifier of the survey; you'll need this in the
    following steps.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Create the study

    Next, create a study to select the participants you'd like to take the study.

    The `external_study_url` on the study will be `https://prolific.com/surveys/{survey_id}`, using survey `_id` from
    step 1.

    <RunnableEndpoint endpoint="POST /api/v1/studies/" example="your_first_data_collection_study" readonly={["examples"]} />

    There are many filters you can use to find your participants. In the example above we are selecting participants
    who are between 18 and 35 years old using the `filter_id` `age`.

    When a participant completes your study, you will need to review and approve their submission to ensure they get
    paid.
    You are able to automate this process using completion paths - see the [study object
    documentation](/api-reference/studies/the-study-object) for more details.

    Make a note of the `id` from the response as this is the identifier of the study; you'll need this in the following
    steps.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Publish the study

    Next, publish the study to start recruiting participants.

    <RunnableEndpoint endpoint="POST /api/v1/studies/{id}/transition/" example="publish_study" readonly={["examples"]} />

    Once the study has successfully published, the study's `status` will be `ACTIVE`.

    When the expected number of submissions have been completed, the study's status will move to `AWAITING REVIEW`, you
    will need to review and approve the submissions to complete the study.

    If you are using completion paths to automate this process, the study will move to `COMPLETED` once all submissions
    have been automatically approved.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Monitor the study's status

    Check the status of your study, using study `id` from step 2.

    <RunnableEndpoint endpoint="GET /api/v1/studies/{id}/" readonly={["examples"]} />

    Again, using the study `id`, check on how many submissions are in progress or have been completed.

    <RunnableEndpoint endpoint="GET /api/v1/studies/{id}/submissions/counts/" readonly={["examples"]} />
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Get the study's results

    Once the study has received enough responses, you can get the results using the export endpoint.

    <RunnableEndpoint endpoint="POST /api/v1/studies/{id}/demographic-export/" readonly={["examples"]} />
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Reviewing Submissions

    To complete a study and pay participants, you will need to review the submissions. You can get a list of submissions
    for your study using the study `id` from step 3.

    <RunnableEndpoint endpoint="GET /api/v1/studies/{id}/submissions/" readonly={["examples"]} />

    Now you have the submissions you can process these as needed. To approve a submission, use the submission `id` from
    the response above and transition each submission to `APPROVED`.

    <RunnableEndpoint endpoint="POST /api/v1/submissions/{id}/transition/" example="Approving a submission" readonly={["examples"]} />

    You can find more information on reviewing submissions in the [submissions
    guide](/api-reference/submissions/submissions-guide).
  </Step>
</Steps>

And that's it! You have successfully collected data using Prolific's API 🎉

## Help & support

[Prolific's researcher help center](https://researcher-help.prolific.com/en) has detailed guides on the core Prolific concepts.

For questions and requests specific to using Prolific's API, you can reach our support team through [this form](https://researcher-help.prolific.com/en/articles/476151-api-support).