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Retrieval baseline from first principles
Build a small search test before adding more retrieval machinery.
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Retrieval baseline from first principles
Build a small search test before adding more retrieval machinery.
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Source-based teaching example · Fictional data · Reviewed 2026-10-03. Microsoft Mark · locally synthesized. On a small screen, use fullscreen for diagram details or read the transcript.
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0:00 · What you will learn
Build a small search test before adding more retrieval machinery.
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Build a small search test before adding more retrieval machinery.
0:06 · The idea
Split source material into pieces you can identify. Check whether search finds the needed pieces. Measure source retrieval separately from whether an answer uses those pieces correctly.
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Split source material into pieces you can identify. Check whether search finds the needed pieces. Measure source retrieval separately from whether an answer uses those pieces correctly.
0:21 · One useful term
Chunk. An identified piece of a source document used in retrieval.
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An identified piece of a source document used in retrieval.
0:28 · A worked example
The exercise searches six made-up policy documents. Exact acronyms and reworded queries may behave differently. Keep the misses and compare rankings against the supplied judgments.
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The exercise searches six made-up policy documents. Exact acronyms and reworded queries may behave differently. Keep the misses and compare rankings against the supplied judgments.
0:43 · Your turn to think
Does finding a relevant passage prove the final answer is supported? Pause and decide before continuing.
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Does finding a relevant passage prove the final answer is supported? Pause the video if you need more time.
1:01 · Why this answer works
No. Retrieval and answer support need separate checks. The toy scores are not a live-model benchmark.
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No. Retrieval and answer support need separate checks. The toy scores are not a live-model benchmark.
1:11 · Check 1
Keep stable source and chunk IDs.
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Keep stable source and chunk IDs.
1:16 · Check 2
Declare tie-breaking rules.
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Declare tie-breaking rules.
1:21 · Check 3
Report misses rather than hiding them.
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Report misses rather than hiding them.
1:26 · Now try a different case
Open the lesson and try its different practice case. Use every check in the full task. Watching alone does not mark the lesson complete.
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Open the lesson Try the new case Check and revise The full task and its requirements are in the linked lesson.
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