Question Answering Systems

Prompt Engineering for Open-Domain QA

Prompt engineering is the process of designing prompts to generate desired outputs from natural language processing (NLP) models. In the context of open-domain question answering (QA), prompt engineering is critical for generating accurate and effective responses to a wide range of questions.

Understanding Open-Domain QA

Open-domain QA involves answering questions on any topic, without prior knowledge of the specific question or domain. This differs from closed-domain QA, which focuses on answering questions within a specific domain or context.

Open-domain QA is a challenging task for NLP models, as it requires the ability to understand and interpret a wide range of language and topics. Additionally, open-domain QA often involves complex reasoning and inference, as well as the ability to retrieve and synthesize information from multiple sources.

Key Components of Prompt Engineering for Open-Domain QA

When engineering prompts for open-domain QA, there are several key components to consider:

1. Context

The context of a prompt is crucial for open-domain QA, as it provides the necessary background information to understand the question being asked. This can include information about the topic, the type of question being asked, and any relevant details or constraints.

For example, a prompt for an open-domain QA task might include context such as "In what year did the United States declare independence?" This provides the necessary background information to understand the question being asked and generate an accurate response.

2. Question or Statement

The question or statement of a prompt is the core component that is used to elicit a response. When crafting a question or statement for open-domain QA, it is important to ensure that it is clear and unambiguous. This can involve using simple language, avoiding complex sentence structures, and providing clear instructions for the user.

For example, a prompt for an open-domain QA task might include the question "What is the largest country in Africa?" This is a clear and unambiguous question that can elicit an accurate response from an NLP model.

3. Response Format

The response format of a prompt refers to the type of response that is expected from the user. For open-domain QA, the response format is typically free text, which allows users to provide a wide range of responses.

4. Feedback

The feedback component of a prompt is important for open-domain QA, as it provides additional information and context to the user. This can include information about whether their response was correct or incorrect, as well as any additional information that may be relevant to the task.

For example, a prompt for an open-domain QA task might include feedback such as "The correct answer is Egypt. Egypt is the largest country in Africa by land area."

5. Iterative Testing

Iterative testing is a critical component of prompt engineering for open-domain QA, as it allows developers to refine and optimize prompts over multiple iterations. This can involve collecting feedback from users and analyzing the data collected, in order to identify areas for improvement and refinement.

Examples of Open-Domain QA Prompts

Here are some examples of prompts for open-domain QA tasks:

1. What is the capital of Spain?

• • Context: None

  • Question: What is the capital of Spain?

  • Response format: Free text

  • Feedback: The correct answer is Madrid. Madrid is the capital of Spain.

2. Who invented the telephone?

• • Context: None

  • Question: Who invented the telephone?

  • Response format: Free text

  • Feedback: The correct answer is Alexander Graham Bell. Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone in 1876.

3. What is the highest mountain in the world?

• • Context: None

  • Question: What is the highest mountain in the world?

  • Response format: Free text

  • Feedback: The correct answer is Mount Everest. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, with a peak elevation of 8,848 meters.

4. What is the formula for water?

• • Context: None

  • Question: What is the formula for water?

  • Response format: Free text

  • Feedback: The correct answer is H2O. Water is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

5. Who wrote the book "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

• • Context: None

  • Question: Who wrote the book "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

  • Response format: Free text

  • Feedback: The correct answer is Harper Lee. Harper Lee wrote the book "To Kill a Mockingbird," which was published in 1960.