Query formulation strategies in LLM-based RAG
Query formulation strategies in LLM-based RAG systems aim to enhance retrieval by improving the expressiveness and coverage of user queries. Common expansion strategies include the following:
- Synonym and paraphrase expansion: This involves generating semantically equivalent alternatives using LLMs or lexical resources. For example, expanding “climate change impact” to include “effects of global warming” or “environmental consequences of climate change” can help match a broader range of documents.
- Contextual reformulation: LLMs can reinterpret queries by inferring their intent based on conversational or document context. This helps in tailoring the query to better align with how the information might be expressed in the knowledge base.
- Pseudo-relevance feedback: Also known as blind relevance feedback, this strategy involves running an initial query, analyzing the top-ranked documents...