TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Decision-making in the Focus Mode
• Comments adding and modifying  
• Structured comments 
• Changing screening decision
• Decision sending
• Decision-making in the Reference List

Decision-making in the Focus Mode

To make a decision during Title and Abstract screening in Focus mode: 

• Use the Include button (green by default) when a record meets the inclusion criteria specified in your screening instruction.

• Use the 'Q1-Qn' exclude button (red by default) to exclude references - in Laser AI there can be multiple reasons for exclusion

• Use the "Postpone" button if you are in doubt about the in/out decision for certain records. Even if you submit your decisions (by clicking ‘Send button’), all records will remain in the Postpone section until you make a final decision.

Tip: You can use keyboard shortcuts to screen your records faster:

A - Include the record

1 - 9 - Exclude with a reason

Ctrl + Z - Undo decision 

Ctrl + Y - Redo decision 

Throughout the screening, you will have access to the screening instructions. To access the screening instructions, click on the 'Instructions and Highlights' tab in the left sidebar.

Comments adding and modifying  

During the screening process, you can add comments, which may be useful for expressing uncertainty or for further discussion when reconciling disagreements.

To add a comment, start typing in the ‘Comment' box. The comment will be saved automatically. 

If you want to edit your comment or add something else, click on the box once again and start typing. 

Structured comments 

Laser AI also allows you to use structured comments (so-called tags or labels), to improve the organisation of the project. These tags are a way of categorizing and grouping references for better management. 

When you come across records that should be tagged according to your screening instruction, select the relevant tags from the “Structured comment” list.

Changing screening decision

There are three ways to change your decision when you do the screening in the Focus Mode:

• Click on the ‘Undo’ button in the upper right corner of Focus Mode 
• Use the Ctrl+Z key combination
• Go to the ‘Reference list’ section in the sidebar sendand select the reference for which you want to  change the decision. Then click on the new decision in the list or delete the existing decision by clicking on the 'X' button (this will move the record to the 'To screen' section).

You may change your screening decision anytime, but it should be done before clicking the 'Send decision' button, which can be found in the references view. After sending decision, changing screening decisions is available only on the Reference list.

Decision sending

When you are satisfied with your screening decisions for a set of records, you should complete the screening process by clicking the ‘Send Decision’ button. Once you have done this, you will no longer be able to change the decision in the My task section.  However, you will still be able to access them in the Tasks board, where they will be categorised as completed records.

Tip: If you feel that certain Records contain incorrect decisions, you can go to the ‘References’ section and overwrite decision. Access to this section depend on your role within project.

Decision-making in the Reference List

You have the option to conduct your screening on the references list using the following approaches:

• Titles only

• Titles and abstracts, as needed (click on selected references and click the Bibliographic data button to open the side panel with abstract and other data)

You can use keyboard shortcuts to screen your records faster:

↑ + ↓ - Navigate up and down the list 
Space - select the reference 
Enter - Enter the Focus mode
A - Include the record
1 - 9 - Exclude with the reason 

While screening on the references list, you can perform batch exclusion by selecting a sample of records you wish to exclude and clicking on the Exclusion button located at the bottom of the dashboard. 

RELATED ARTICLES 

1. Title and abstract screening in the References list vs Focus mode view - overview  

2. Display settings in the Focus mode  

3. Single reference management