Understanding Problem Solving in Software Testing: An Exploration of Tester Routines and Behavior
Software testing is a difficult, intellectual activity performed in a social environment. Naturally, testers use and allocate multiple cognitive resources towards this task. The goal of this study is to understand better the routine and behaviour of human testers and their mental models when performing testing. We investigate this topic by surveying 38 software testers and developers in Sweden. The survey explores testers’ cognitive processes when performing testing by investigating the knowledge they bring, the activities they select and perform, and the challenges they face in their routine. By analyzing the survey results, we provide a characterization of tester practices and identify insights regarding the problem-solving process. We use these descriptions to further enhance a cognitive model of software testing.
Wed 20 SepDisplayed time zone: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna change
11:10 - 12:30 | Session on Test automation and design IFIP-ICTSS 35th International Conference on Testing Software and Systems at Room 5 - Conference room Chair(s): Natalia Kushik SAMOVAR, Télécom SudParis, Institut Polytechnique de Paris | ||
11:10 20mTalk | Automated Testing of Systems of Systems IFIP-ICTSS 35th International Conference on Testing Software and Systems | ||
11:30 30mTalk | Understanding Problem Solving in Software Testing: An Exploration of Tester Routines and Behavior IFIP-ICTSS 35th International Conference on Testing Software and Systems Eduard Paul Enoiu Mälardalen University, Gregory Gay Chalmers | University of Gothenburg, Jameel Esber , Robert Feldt Chalmers | University of Gothenburg, Blekinge Institute of Technology Pre-print | ||
12:00 30mTalk | Enhancing Synthetic Test Data Generation with Language Models Using a More Expressive Domain-Specific Language IFIP-ICTSS 35th International Conference on Testing Software and Systems | ||