CTFL 1.5.3: Distinguish the benefits and drawbacks of independence of testing
K2Syllabus section 1.5.3
3 original PrepBench practice questions for learning objective 1.5.3 of the CTFL 4.0 syllabus. Try the examples below and check each answer against its syllabus reference.
Practice questions
Question 1
Which of the following is a potential DRAWBACK of a high degree of independence of testing?
- Testers may recognize different kinds of failures than developers
- Testers may verify assumptions that were made during specification
- Testers may become isolated from the development team, causing collaboration and communication problems
- Testers may challenge the project's requirements more effectively
Show answer
- Testers may recognize different kinds of failures than developersRecognizing different kinds of failures is a benefit of independence, not a drawback.
- Testers may verify assumptions that were made during specificationVerifying assumptions made during specification is a benefit of independence, not a drawback.
- Correct answer: Testers may become isolated from the development team, causing collaboration and communication problemsIndependent testers can become isolated, causing communication and collaboration problems.
- Testers may challenge the project's requirements more effectivelyChallenging the requirements more effectively is a benefit of independence, not a drawback.
Independence brings benefits such as recognizing different failures and challenging assumptions, but drawbacks include possible isolation from the development team, communication problems, and developers feeling less responsibility for quality.
Syllabus section 1.5.3
Question 2
A project plans to move all testing from developers to a separate external test organization. Which assessment best reflects the trade-off described for independent testing?
- External testers should replace developers because very high independence finds every defect developers miss
- External testers may challenge different assumptions, but developers' familiarity remains valuable, so multiple levels are usually preferable
- Developers should remain the only testers because familiarity provides the same benefit as an independent perspective
- Same-team peers provide very high independence, so an external group adds no different perspective
Show answer
- External testers should replace developers because very high independence finds every defect developers missIndependence does not replace developers' familiarity, and it does not guarantee that every missed defect will be found.
- Correct answer: External testers may challenge different assumptions, but developers' familiarity remains valuable, so multiple levels are usually preferableIndependent perspectives add value, developer familiarity remains useful, and multiple levels are usually best.
- Developers should remain the only testers because familiarity provides the same benefit as an independent perspectiveDeveloper familiarity is valuable, but it does not provide the different perspective that gives independence its main benefit.
- Same-team peers provide very high independence, so an external group adds no different perspectiveSame-team peers provide some independence, not very high independence, and outsiders can bring different perspectives.
Independent testers can recognize different failures and defects and challenge stakeholder assumptions because they bring different backgrounds, perspectives and biases. Independence does not replace familiarity: developers can efficiently find many defects in their own code. For most projects, testing with multiple levels of independence is therefore usually best.
Syllabus section 1.5.3
Question 3
An organization moves system testing from the development team to a test team in a different department. Which statement pairs a benefit of this increased independence with a drawback of it?
- Benefit: the new testers challenge stakeholders' assumptions; drawback: defect reports take longer to write
- Benefit: the new testers know the code better than its authors; drawback: the release may be delayed
- Benefit: the new testers recognize other kinds of defects; drawback: they may be isolated from the developers
- Benefit: the new testers cover every test level on their own; drawback: they may be blamed for delays
Show answer
- Benefit: the new testers challenge stakeholders' assumptions; drawback: defect reports take longer to writeThe benefit is real, but slower defect reporting is not among the stated drawbacks of independence.
- Benefit: the new testers know the code better than its authors; drawback: the release may be delayedIndependence is not a replacement for familiarity — developers can efficiently find many defects in their own code.
- Correct answer: Benefit: the new testers recognize other kinds of defects; drawback: they may be isolated from the developersDifferent biases surface other defects, while the independent team risks becoming isolated from development.
- Benefit: the new testers cover every test level on their own; drawback: they may be blamed for delaysTesting is usually best carried out with multiple levels of independence, so one team covering every level is not a benefit.
The main benefit of independence is that independent testers are likely to recognize different kinds of failures and defects than developers, because of their different backgrounds, technical perspectives and biases; they can also verify, challenge or disprove stakeholders' assumptions. The drawbacks include isolation from the development team, which may lead to a lack of collaboration, communication problems or an adversarial relationship, developers losing a sense of responsibility for quality, and independent testers being seen as a bottleneck or blamed for delays.
Syllabus section 1.5.3
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