Software Testing Research & Evidence-Based Practice 4

Question 1

Which statistical test is most appropriate for comparing defect counts between two independent test techniques with non-normal distributions?

Accepted Answer

Mann-Whitney U test

Answer

The Mann-Whitney U test is a non-parametric alternative to the t-test, suitable for comparing two independent groups when normality cannot be assumed.

Question 2

In evidence-based testing, what does the PICO framework stand for?

Accepted Answer

Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome

Answer

PICO structures research questions by defining the Population, Intervention being studied, Comparison condition, and desired Outcome.

Question 3

What is 'construct validity' in the context of a software testing research study?

Accepted Answer

Whether the measurement instruments actually capture the theoretical concept they claim to measure

Answer

Construct validity ensures that the measures used (e.g., fault-detection rate) truly represent the theoretical construct (e.g., test effectiveness).

Question 4

A researcher claims that TDD reduces defect density based on a study of 10 student projects. What threat to validity is most prominent?

Accepted Answer

Low external validity due to a non-representative student population

Answer

Student projects differ significantly from industrial projects in scale, domain, and developer experience, limiting generalizability.

Question 5

What distinguishes a 'mapping study' from a full 'systematic literature review' in software testing research?

Accepted Answer

A mapping study provides a broad overview of research trends; an SLR provides in-depth synthesis of evidence

Answer

Mapping studies classify and visualize the landscape of research on a topic, while SLRs deeply synthesize evidence to answer specific research questions.

Software Testing Practice Test

Software Testing Practice Test

Software Testing Research & Evidence-Based Practice 4