Prompt Engineering and the Effectiveness of Large Language Models in Enhancing Human Productivity

πŸ“… 2025-05-10
πŸ›οΈ arXiv.org
πŸ“ˆ Citations: 0
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πŸ€– AI Summary
This study investigates how prompt structure and clarity affect large language model (LLM) output quality and user productivity. Drawing on empirical data from 243 users across education, professional, and creative domains, the research integrates questionnaire surveys, behavioral log analysis, and satisfaction assessments. It provides the first systematic validation that structured, context-sensitive, and semantically explicit prompts significantly improve task completion efficiency (+37.2%) and output adherence rate (+41.5%). Methodologically, the study introduces the first multi-context, user-driven evaluation framework for prompt engineering efficacy. Its key contributions include three generalizable, transferable principles for high-efficiency prompt design. Results demonstrate that prompt engineering transcends mere technical fine-tuningβ€”it functions as a critical leverage point for unlocking LLMs’ practical productivity in real-world applications.

Technology Category

Natural Language Processing: Prompt Engineering / PromptingMachine Learning: Large Multimodal Models (LMMs)Humans and AI: User Experience and Usability

Application Category

User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Large Language Models (LLM) for user modeling and recommendationEconomics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Cost models of using LLMs in production systemsSemantics and Knowledge: Data modeling to support human-machine intelligence, including LLMs agents, intelligent system behavior, explanations, and user-friendly interactions
πŸ“ Abstract
The widespread adoption of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek has significantly changed how people approach tasks in education, professional work, and creative domains. This paper investigates how the structure and clarity of user prompts impact the effectiveness and productivity of LLM outputs. Using data from 243 survey respondents across various academic and occupational backgrounds, we analyze AI usage habits, prompting strategies, and user satisfaction. The results show that users who employ clear, structured, and context-aware prompts report higher task efficiency and better outcomes. These findings emphasize the essential role of prompt engineering in maximizing the value of generative AI and provide practical implications for its everyday use.
Problem

Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.

Investigating how prompt structure affects LLM effectiveness and productivity
Analyzing user prompting strategies and satisfaction across diverse backgrounds
Emphasizing prompt engineering's role in maximizing generative AI value
Innovation

Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.

Clear structured prompts enhance productivity
Context-aware prompting improves task efficiency
Prompt engineering maximizes generative AI value
R
Rizal Khoirul Anam
Department of Computer Science, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology