Article Type Classification Filter

Overview

The article type classification filter categorizes manuscripts into multiple overlapping types. A single manuscript can belong to several categories simultaneously (e.g., a paper can be both “research_article” AND “empirical_study” AND “sample_study”).

Configuration

Basic Configuration

[filters.article_type]
enabled = true
use_ai = false

# Traditional publication type exclusions
exclude_reviews = true
exclude_editorials = true
exclude_letters = true
exclude_case_reports = false
exclude_commentary = false
exclude_perspectives = false

# Methodological type exclusions
exclude_theoretical = false
exclude_empirical = false
exclude_methods = false

# Study scope exclusions
exclude_single_case = false
exclude_sample = false

include_types = []  # If specified, ONLY include these types

Configuration Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
`enabled`	boolean	false	Enable/disable the filter
`use_ai`	boolean	false	Use AI for classification (requires LLM config)
`exclude_reviews`	boolean	false	Exclude all review types (review, systematic_review, meta_analysis)
`exclude_editorials`	boolean	false	Exclude editorial articles
`exclude_letters`	boolean	false	Exclude letters to editor
`exclude_case_reports`	boolean	false	Exclude case report articles
`exclude_commentary`	boolean	false	Exclude commentary articles
`exclude_perspectives`	boolean	false	Exclude perspective/opinion articles
`exclude_theoretical`	boolean	false	Exclude theoretical/conceptual papers
`exclude_empirical`	boolean	false	Exclude empirical studies with data
`exclude_methods`	boolean	false	Exclude methods/methodology papers
`exclude_single_case`	boolean	false	Exclude single case studies (n=1)
`exclude_sample`	boolean	false	Exclude sample studies (multiple subjects)
`include_types`	array	[]	If specified, ONLY include these types

Article Type Categories

Traditional Publication Types

research_article: Original research with methods and results
review: Literature reviews, narrative reviews
systematic_review: Following structured protocols (e.g., PRISMA)
meta_analysis: Statistical synthesis of multiple studies
editorial: Opinion pieces by editors
letter: Correspondence to editors
case_report: Reports of individual patient cases or specific instances
commentary: Comments on published work
perspective: Author viewpoints and opinion pieces

Methodological Types

Can overlap with publication types:

empirical_study: Research based on observation or experimentation with data collection
theoretical_paper: Conceptual or theoretical work without empirical data
methods_paper: Paper presenting new methods, techniques, or protocols

Study Scope Classifications

Applies to empirical studies:

single_case_study: In-depth analysis of a single case, patient, organization, or instance (n=1)
sample_study: Study involving multiple cases, participants, or subjects (includes cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, surveys)

Classification Methods

Rule-Based Classification (use_ai = false)

Uses keyword patterns and heuristics:

Analyzes text for specific indicators (e.g., “systematic review”, “editorial”, “we conducted”, “participants”)
Calculates confidence scores based on keyword frequency and placement
Fast and deterministic, no API calls required
Best for: Large datasets, offline processing, consistent reproducible results

AI-Assisted Classification (use_ai = true)

Uses LLM for semantic understanding:

Understands context and meaning beyond keyword matching
Identifies subtle distinctions between article types
Provides more accurate classification for complex cases
Returns structured classification with all applicable types

AI Analysis Dimensions:

Traditional publication types (research, review, editorial, etc.)
Methodological approach (empirical, theoretical, methods)
Study scope if empirical (single case vs. sample study)

Output Fields

The filter adds these fields to each manuscript record:

Field	Type	Description
`tag_article_types`	string/object	JSON with primary_type and all_types arrays
`tag_primary_type`	string	The most specific/important classification
`tag_all_types`	array	Complete list of applicable types
`tag_methodological_types`	array	Empirical/theoretical/methods classification
`tag_scope_types`	array	Single case or sample study designation
`exclusion_reason`	string	Explanation if manuscript is excluded

Important Notes

Article types are NOT mutually exclusive - papers receive all applicable classifications
Exclusion filters check ALL assigned types - if exclude_reviews = true, it excludes papers classified as “review”, “systematic_review”, OR “meta_analysis”
The include_types filter overrides exclusions - specifies exactly which types to accept

Example Configurations

Research Articles Only

[filters.article_type]
enabled = true
use_ai = false
exclude_reviews = true
exclude_editorials = true
exclude_letters = true
exclude_case_reports = true
exclude_commentary = true
exclude_perspectives = true

Empirical Studies with Multiple Subjects

[filters.article_type]
enabled = true
use_ai = false
exclude_theoretical = true
exclude_single_case = true
include_types = ["empirical_study", "sample_study"]

High-Accuracy Classification with AI

[filters.article_type]
enabled = true
use_ai = true
exclude_reviews = false
exclude_editorials = true
exclude_letters = true

[[filters.llm]]
provider = "OpenAI"
api_key = ""  # Uses environment variable
model = "gpt-4o-mini"
temperature = 0.01

Accept Only Specific Types

[filters.article_type]
enabled = true
use_ai = false
include_types = ["research_article", "systematic_review", "meta_analysis"]
# This will ONLY include these three types, regardless of other settings

Classification Examples

Manuscript Type	Classifications Applied
Randomized controlled trial	research_article, empirical_study, sample_study
Systematic review with meta-analysis	systematic_review, meta_analysis
Case report of rare disease	case_report, single_case_study
New statistical method paper	methods_paper, research_article
Theoretical framework paper	theoretical_paper, research_article
Editorial on research ethics	editorial
Cohort study of 1000 patients	research_article, empirical_study, sample_study

Performance Considerations

Rule-Based Mode

Speed: Very fast, processes hundreds of manuscripts per second
Accuracy: Good for clear article types with distinct keywords
Cost: Free, no API calls

AI-Assisted Mode

Speed: Limited by API rate limits
Accuracy: Better for nuanced classification and edge cases
Cost: API costs apply

Best Practices

Understand Overlapping Types: Remember that manuscripts can have multiple types
Use Exclusions Carefully: Excluding one type may affect related types
Consider include_types: Use for precise control over accepted types
AI for Complex Cases: Use AI mode when dealing with:
- Interdisciplinary research
- Novel publication formats
- Non-standard article structures
Review Classifications: Check the assigned types in output to verify accuracy

Filter Order

Article type classification is applied third in the screening pipeline, after deduplication and language detection. This ensures:

No duplicate processing
Only manuscripts in accepted languages are classified
Classification tags available for final inclusion decisions