03 the psychology of testing (v2.4)

© SIM Group Ltd., SQS Group AG, 2002

ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing

The Psychology Of TestingThe Psychology Of Testing


The Psychology Of Testing

In this session we willIn this session we will

Understand what qualities make good testersUnderstand what qualities make good testers

Look at a testers’ relationship with developersLook at a testers’ relationship with developers

Look at a testers’ relationship with managementLook at a testers’ relationship with management

Understand the issues with testing independenceUnderstand the issues with testing independence


What makes a Tester?

Testing is primarily to find faultsTesting is primarily to find faults

Can be regarded as ‘destructive’Can be regarded as ‘destructive’

Development is ‘constructive’Development is ‘constructive’

Testing asks questionsTesting asks questions

Testers need to ask questionsTesters need to ask questions

A tester needs many qualities... A tester needs many qualities...



Intellectual qualitiesIntellectual qualities

Can absorb incomplete factsCan absorb incomplete facts

Can work with incomplete factsCan work with incomplete facts

Can learn quickly on many levelsCan learn quickly on many levels

Good verbal communicationGood verbal communication

Good written communicationGood written communication

Ability to prioritiseAbility to prioritise

Self-organisationSelf-organisation



KnowledgeKnowledge

How projects workHow projects work

How computer systems and business needs interactHow computer systems and business needs interact

What makes IT tick - technologyWhat makes IT tick - technology

What makes IT tick - commercial aspectsWhat makes IT tick - commercial aspects

Testing techniquesTesting techniques

Testing best practiceTesting best practice

To be able to think inside and outside of a system To be able to think inside and outside of a system specificationspecification



More skills to acquireMore skills to acquire

How to find bugs - planning, preparation & executionHow to find bugs - planning, preparation & execution

How to understand systemsHow to understand systems

How to read specificationsHow to read specifications

How to extract testable functionalityHow to extract testable functionality

How to work efficientlyHow to work efficiently

How to focus on essentialsHow to focus on essentials


Reporting Defects

Defects need to be reported toDefects need to be reported to

Developers to enable them to fix themDevelopers to enable them to fix them

Management so they can track progressManagement so they can track progress

Communication to both groups is vitalCommunication to both groups is vital


Communication with Developers

A good relationship is vitalA good relationship is vital

Developers need to keep testers up to date with changes to Developers need to keep testers up to date with changes to the applicationthe application

Testers need to inform developers of defects to allow fixes to Testers need to inform developers of defects to allow fixes to be appliedbe applied


Communication with Management

Managers need progress reportsManagers need progress reports

The best way is through metricsThe best way is through metrics Number of tests planned & preparedNumber of tests planned & prepared

Number of tests executed to dateNumber of tests executed to date

Number of defects raised & fixedNumber of defects raised & fixed

How long planning, preparation and execution stages takeHow long planning, preparation and execution stages take


The Psychology of Testing

Testing IndependenceTesting Independence


Testing Independence

It is important that testing is separate from It is important that testing is separate from developmentdevelopment

The developer is likely to confirm adherence not deviationThe developer is likely to confirm adherence not deviation

The developer will make assumptions - the same when The developer will make assumptions - the same when testing as developingtesting as developing


Testing Independence

Levels of IndependenceLevels of Independence

Low - Developers write their own testsLow - Developers write their own tests

Medium - Tests are written by another developerMedium - Tests are written by another developer

High - Tests written by an independent bodyHigh - Tests written by an independent body Tests written by another sectionTests written by another section Tests written by another organisationTests written by another organisation

Utopia - Tests generated automaticallyUtopia - Tests generated automatically


The Psychology Of Testing

SummarySummary

Testers require a particular set of skillsTesters require a particular set of skills The desire to break thingsThe desire to break things The desire to explore and experimentThe desire to explore and experiment CommunicationCommunication QuestioningQuestioning

Testing requires a different mentality to developmentTesting requires a different mentality to development ““Destroying” things rather than creating themDestroying” things rather than creating them Testing should be separate from developmentTesting should be separate from development

03 the psychology of testing (v2.4)

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