TY - JOUR
T1 - Why Software Testing Is Sometimes Ineffective
T2 - Two Applied Studies of Positive Test Strategy
AU - Teasley, Barbee E.
AU - Leventhal, Laura Marie
AU - Mynatt, Clifford R.
AU - Rohlman, Diane S.
PY - 1994/2
Y1 - 1994/2
N2 - The term positive test strategy describes the tendency to test a hypothesis with test cases that confirm (i.e., aim to support) rather than disconfirm the hypothesis. Most demonstrations of this phenomenon have involved relatively abstract problems. The authors suggest that people use a positive test strategy in a more applied setting as well, that is, in computer software testing. In 2 experiments, they examined how Ss with varying expertise performed functional testing of software. There was substantial evidence of the use of a positive test strategy: Ss tended to test only those functions and aspects of the software that were specifically described in the specifications as what the software was supposed to do. This effect was only partially mitigated by increasing expertise among testers and by more complete program specifications.
AB - The term positive test strategy describes the tendency to test a hypothesis with test cases that confirm (i.e., aim to support) rather than disconfirm the hypothesis. Most demonstrations of this phenomenon have involved relatively abstract problems. The authors suggest that people use a positive test strategy in a more applied setting as well, that is, in computer software testing. In 2 experiments, they examined how Ss with varying expertise performed functional testing of software. There was substantial evidence of the use of a positive test strategy: Ss tended to test only those functions and aspects of the software that were specifically described in the specifications as what the software was supposed to do. This effect was only partially mitigated by increasing expertise among testers and by more complete program specifications.
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U2 - 10.1037/0021-9010.79.1.142
DO - 10.1037/0021-9010.79.1.142
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:58149204749
SN - 0021-9010
VL - 79
SP - 142
EP - 155
JO - Journal of Applied Psychology
JF - Journal of Applied Psychology
IS - 1
ER -