The Psychology of Testing
- Building the software requires a different mindset from testing the software.
- Building is aimed to solve problems with testing is to look for defects (find problems) in software.
- Programmers and Testers are two separate roles, although programmers do test code.
- Test independence avoids author bias and is often more effective at finding defects and failures.
- Developers view : Testing is the process to prove that software works correctly.
- QA view : Testing is the process to prove that software does not work.
- Manager’s View : Testing is the process to detect the defects and minimize the risk associated with the residual defects.
Why do we test?
- Primarily to find faults in the software
- This can be perceived as being a destructive process, not constructive
- How does this fit with the mind set of the developer and tester ?
Tester-Developer relationships:
Communication is the Key !!
- Must be constructive not destructive
- Developers must inform testers of any changes made to the system
- Testers must report problems to developers clearly and concisely.
It is a two-way process !!
Test Independence:
Independent testing is more effective.
- Author should not test their own work.
- The author should not test their own work
-Assumptions made are carried into testing
-People see what they want to see
-There can be emotional attachment with the product
-We’re human
Levels of Independence
- Where test cases are
- designed by the person who writes the software under test (v.v.low)
- designed by another person(low)
- designed by people from another department (medium)
- designed by people from another organisation (very medium)
- not chosen by a person (v.v.high)
Testers characteristics:
- Methodical
- Happy when they are finding faults
- Under-valued by the organisation
- Not always intended to be a tester
- Good communicators
- Need to be multi-talented
- Tact & diplomacy are essential
Developer characteristics :
- Specialized
- Creative
- Valued by the organisation
- Trained
- Sensitive to criticism
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