Sleight-of-Quality : A Magical Approach to Testing
First 90 Words:
Software testing requires a diverse set of skills, demonstrated in complex testing environments. The study of traditional magic principles can help software testers raise their awareness of discrepancies that can be found in these environments, leading to improved quality assurance. Software likened to a magical “trick” offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of method and effect, enabling us as professionals to approach testing from new angles. Magic in this context will not only educate but will also entertain!
Quality assurance is a field that requires a diverse set of skills, demonstrated in a myriad of complex testing environments. The study of traditional magic principles can help software testers raise their awareness of the discrepancies that can be found in these environments, leading to improved quality assurance. Software likened to a magical “trick” offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of method and effect. Through the study of effect we can gain awareness of method which will enable us as professionals to provide quality assurance. Parallels can be drawn between the complementary roles of the developer and the tester, and the magi and his audience. Both can benefit from understanding one another’s perspectives and from seeing things from a different point of view. Psychological principles and heuristics are key players in both fields, causing both the software tester and the audience to be deceived. These factors, combined with misdirection of attention, provide a breeding ground for distorted perceptions that can allow bugs to go unnoticed. Without awareness of the realities in which we, the observers, conduct our observations, we as testers are no better than laymen observing magic for the first time. This talk will discuss and exploit the principles of magic in order to better educate the software tester. This new approach will enable a heightened sense of awareness of the testing environment, and strengthen deductive and reasoning skills.
On stage demonstrations of sleight of hand (magic) will be used to expose the audience to misdirection. The concept of ‘sleight-of-quality’ will be introduced through a discussion of the five pillars of magic. A series of tricks will by preformed for the audience throughout the presentation. With each trick, the audience will analyze their observations and will be exposed to each other’s perspectives. As the presentation progresses, the audience will be given further tools to aid in their observation / software testing endeavors.
Taking the concept of method/effect and requirement/test result we will explore the parallel relationships and complimentary roles of the Software Developer/Tester and the Magician and their audience. After discussing what can be learned from each other’s perspectives, we’ll discuss heuristics and principles that can be used to used to raise both understanding of a magical effect and quality assurance in software.
Next, we’ll talk about the psychological factors such as attention blindness and anchor bias that affect both disciplines. A discussion of how these adverse psychological phenomenon can be combated will also take place. Towards the end of the presentation we’ll allow the audience to revisit the magic demonstration and software tested at the beginning of the talk with their new found tools, heuristics and perspective.
We aim to leave the audience with a heightened sense of awareness of their testing environment and to strengthen their deductive and reasoning skills. The discussion of magic in relation to QA will take most audience members out of their QA comfort zones and require them to unfocus and then refocus their attention in order to observe — a valuable still in and QA role.
Exercises/Activities: Magic effects (can’t be disclosed) , Discussion of methods used to achieve effect, discussion of heuristics used to test software, observation tests throughout presentation, videos demonstrating the aforementioned psychological phenomenon.