> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.voxdash.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Step 1 · Study Basics

> Name your AI-CATI study, choose where its interviews are stored, set the default time zone and start date, and confirm the legal and contact-authority attestations.

**Study basics** is the first step of the AI-CATI setup wizard. Here you name the study, choose the data project where interviews are stored, set the study's default time zone and start date, and confirm two legal attestations.

To begin, select **New study** on the [studies list](https://help.voxdash.com/AI-CATI/Studies-List.md).

![Step 1 · Study basics for a new study](https://mintcdn.com/voxdash/OFPcyQtvMysHCjUR/images/AICATI/a-step1-new.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=OFPcyQtvMysHCjUR\&q=85\&s=887d1b084d35d4ce1243a299e2a5a3c0)

## The Setup Wizard

Every setup step shares the same layout:

* **Step rail (left).** Lists the seven steps and shows how many are done. A check mark means the step is complete; a lock means the step is not open yet. Select **All studies** to go back to the list.
* **Step content (center).** The fields for the current step.
* **Footer.** **Previous**, **Save and exit**, **Continue** (or **Finish** on the last step), and "Step N of 7". A save indicator shows **Saving…**, **Saved** or **Save failed**.

![Setup step rail](https://mintcdn.com/voxdash/OFPcyQtvMysHCjUR/images/AICATI/a-step1-wizard-rail.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=OFPcyQtvMysHCjUR\&q=85\&s=25d7d199cd7a5f633194b6eec8ca45ab)

A step opens only when the earlier steps are complete ("Complete the earlier steps first. This step reads data they produce."). If you open a locked step from a link, you see **This step is not open yet** with a button that takes you to the step you need to finish.

If you try to leave with unsaved changes, VoxDash asks whether to **Keep editing** or **Discard changes**.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Setup can be changed only while the study is **Draft** or **Ready to launch**. From the first dial on — including the first dial of a sub-sample — the wizard becomes read-only. When a study is stopped, only the settings that may change while stopped are unlocked.

## Study Identity

![Study identity](https://mintcdn.com/voxdash/OFPcyQtvMysHCjUR/images/AICATI/a-step1-identity.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=OFPcyQtvMysHCjUR\&q=85\&s=457fc845582a8899e667427e5fe6e138)

| Field | Required | Description |
| - | - | - |
| **Study name** | Yes | Shown in the studies list and in reporting. Up to 255 characters. |
| **Client / organization** | — | Read-only. Set by the organization switcher in the header. To create the study in another organization, switch organization there first. |
| **VoxDash data project** | Yes | The data project where collected interviews are stored. It must belong to the selected organization. Search for an existing project, or type a new name and choose **Create data project** to create one on the spot. |
| **Default time zone (fallback)** | Yes | Used when a record's own time zone cannot be determined from the sample. Calling hours are applied in each record's own time zone. |

## Study Start Date

Choose when calling should begin:

* **When I launch** — calling starts as soon as you launch the study.
* **Schedule** — launching seals the study immediately, and calling starts at the date and time you pick. Enter a **Date** and a **Time**; the time is read as local time in the study's default time zone.

| Rule | Value |
| - | - |
| Earliest start date | Today, in the study's time zone |
| Date range | 2000-01-01 to 2099-12-31 |
| Time | Required when **Schedule** is selected |

> [!TIP]
>
> A scheduled study shows **Scheduled** on the studies list until its start time. You can change the start, or start it right away, from the study page.

## Legal and Contact-Authority Attestations

Before a study can be fielded, you must confirm both statements:

1. **I confirm the intended use complies with all applicable legal and regulatory obligations.** This includes TCPA, CASL, PIPEDA, GDPR and any local telemarketing or research restrictions.
2. **I confirm lawful authority to contact the sample for the stated purpose.** This includes valid consent, opt-in status, or a legitimate research basis for each record you upload.

![Legal and contact-authority attestations](https://mintcdn.com/voxdash/OFPcyQtvMysHCjUR/images/AICATI/a-step1-attestations.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=OFPcyQtvMysHCjUR\&q=85\&s=f057e5d2daa409ce25efc3f1bb0d25d4)

> [!WARNING]
>
> VoxDash does not validate compliance. You are responsible for both statements. The attestations are recorded against the study and are part of its audit trail.

## Completing the Step

Step 1 is complete when the study has a name, an organization, a data project and a time zone, and both attestations are checked.

Select **Continue**. For a new study, this creates the study (it now appears on the studies list as a **Draft**) and opens [Step 2 · Questionnaire](https://help.voxdash.com/AI-CATI/Setup-Questionnaire.md).

> [!TIP]
>
> If you started the study from **Create AI-CATI** in the Questionnaire Builder, the questionnaire version you came from is bound automatically when you reach step 2.


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