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Model Tiers Reference

Strategic model routing for optimal cost-performance balance

"Use LOW tier for exploration, escalate to MEDIUM for implementation, reserve HIGH for validation"

Model Tier System

Diverga routes agents to appropriate AI models (Opus, Sonnet, Haiku) based on task complexity, ensuring optimal cost-performance balance.

HIGH

13 agents
Opus
Cost: Highest
Speed: Slowest
Use for: Complex analysis, critical decisions, orchestration
Checkpoints
Usually REQUIRED
Examples
  • Theory selection with VS methodology
  • Research design validation
  • Meta-analysis orchestration
  • Humanization transformation
Agents
A1A2A5C1C2C3C5D4E1E2E3G6I0

MEDIUM

9 agents
Sonnet
Cost: Moderate
Speed: Balanced
Use for: Standard tasks, balanced quality
Checkpoints
Usually RECOMMENDED
Examples
  • Literature search & screening
  • Data integrity validation
  • AI pattern detection
  • Ethics review
Agents
B1B2D2G1G2G5I1I2X1

LOW

2 agents
Haiku
Cost: Lowest
Speed: Fastest
Use for: Quick validation, RAG building
Checkpoints
Usually OPTIONAL
Examples
  • Humanization verification
  • Vector database construction
Agents
F5I3

Tier Selection Matrix

Choose appropriate tier based on task complexity and research stage:

Task ComplexityResearch StageRecommended TierReason
Critical decisionEarly (design)HIGHFoundation decisions impact entire project
Standard analysisMiddle (data)MEDIUMBalanced rigor and cost-efficiency
Simple lookupAnyLOWFast, reliable, cost-effective
Complex orchestrationAnyHIGHMulti-agent coordination needed
Batch processingData collectionMEDIUM/LOWVolume over individual quality
Validation gateQuality checkHIGHCritical quality assurance

Cost Optimization Strategy

Maximize value by strategic tier routing:

Exploration → Implementation → Validation

Start with LOW tier agents for exploration (F5, I3), escalate to MEDIUM for implementation (B1, B2), reserve HIGH for validation (A1, A2)

~60-70% cost reduction vs. all-HIGH

Parallel LOW-tier Processing

Use LOW-tier agents for batch tasks (F5, I3) that can run in parallel without checkpoints

~80% cost reduction vs. sequential HIGH-tier

Checkpoint-Gated Escalation

Only escalate to HIGH tier when checkpoint requires human decision (🔴 REQUIRED)

~50% cost reduction vs. default HIGH

Complete Agent-Tier Matrix

All 24 agents organized by tier and category:

HIGH Tier (13 agents)

IDAgentCategoryPurposeCheckpoint
A1ResearchQuestionRefinerAFINER/PICO/SPIDER formulation🔴 CP_RESEARCH_DIRECTION
A2TheoryCritiqueArchitectATheory selection with VS🔴 CP_THEORY_SELECTION
A5ParadigmWorldviewAdvisorAParadigm guidance🔴 CP_PARADIGM_SELECTION
C1QuantitativeDesignSamplingCRCTs, quasi-experimental🔴 CP_METHODOLOGY_APPROVAL
C2QualitativeDesignCPhenomenology, GT🔴 CP_METHODOLOGY_APPROVAL
C3MixedMethodsDesignCSequential, convergent🔴 CP_METHODOLOGY_APPROVAL
C5MetaAnalysisMasterCMulti-gate orchestration🔴 CP_META_GATE
D4MeasurementInstrumentDeveloperDScale construction🔴 CP_METHODOLOGY_APPROVAL
E1QuantitativeAnalysisCodeGenEStatistical analysis🟠 CP_ANALYSIS_PLAN
E2QualitativeCodingSpecialistEThematic, GT coding-
E3MixedMethodsIntegrationEJoint displays🟠 CP_INTEGRATION_STRATEGY
G6AcademicStyleHumanizerGTransform AI patterns🟡 CP_HUMANIZATION_VERIFY
I0SRPipelineOrchestratorIPRISMA pipeline coordination🔴 SCH_* checkpoints

MEDIUM Tier (9 agents)

IDAgentCategoryPurposeCheckpoint
B1LiteratureScoutBPRISMA workflows-
B2EvidenceQualityAppraiserBRoB, GRADE-
D2DataCollectionSpecialistDInterview protocols-
G1JournalMatcherGTarget journal selection-
G2PublicationSpecialistGAcademic writing-
G5AcademicStyleAuditorGAI pattern detection🟠 CP_HUMANIZATION_REVIEW
I1PaperRetrievalAgentIMulti-database fetching🔴 SCH_DATABASE_SELECTION
I2ScreeningAssistantIAI-PRISMA screening🔴 SCH_SCREENING_CRITERIA
X1ResearchGuardianXResearch integrity, ethics-

LOW Tier (2 agents)

IDAgentCategoryPurposeCheckpoint
F5HumanizationVerifierFVerify transformation-
I3RAGBuilderIVector database🟠 SCH_RAG_READINESS

Temperature Settings by Category

Temperature controls creativity vs. consistency:

A (Foundation)0.3-0.5

Strategic with creativity for alternatives

B (Evidence)0.1-0.3

Precision in evidence synthesis

C (Design)0.5-0.7

Balance rigor with design creativity

D (Collection)0.3-0.5

Structured but adaptive protocols

E (Analysis)0.1-0.3

Analytical precision required

F (Quality)0.1

Maximum consistency for validation

G (Communication)0.5-0.7

Creative communication

I (Systematic Review)0.1-0.3

PRISMA compliance precision

X (Cross-Cutting)0.3-0.5

Balanced integrity oversight

Manual Model Override

You can override default tier by explicitly passing model parameter to Task tool:

// Default: A4 uses sonnet (MEDIUM tier)
Task(subagent_type="diverga:a4", model="opus", prompt="...")

// Override to HIGH tier for critical ethics review