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A case study of software testers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2009

Robin Lampert ,
David Hamilton  and
Elliot Soloway
Robin Lampert
Affiliation:
Yale University, Department of Computer Science, Cognition and Programming Project, P. O. Box 2158, Yale Station, New Haven, CT 06520
David Hamilton
Affiliation:
IBM, Systems Integration Division, 3700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX 77058, U.S.A.
Elliot Soloway
Affiliation:
Yale University, Department of Computer Science, Cognition and Programming Project, P. O. Box 2158, Yale Station, New Haven, CT 06520
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Abstract

In an effort to learn more about how testers test code, we observed several testers while they designed tests to check a change which had been made to code. Using a case study methodology, we gathered empirical data from the ‘real world’—professional testers, and actual software products. We found that testers do share some common work patterns. These patterns can be seen in their information gathering, their use of heuristics and their construction of mental models. This work is extremely knowledge intensive, experience appears to have a useful effect. In this paper we will discuss how we collected and analysed our data. Then we will present some of our observations about how the testers gathered information, used heuristics, formed mental models and were affected by their previous experience in the course of designing their test scenarios. Based on these observations we comment on training and tools for testers.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
AI EDAM , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , February 1989 , pp. 35 - 51
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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