An instrument to measure factors that constitute the socio-technical context of testing experience

TL;DR

This paper develops a survey instrument to measure the socio-technical factors influencing software testing experiences, focusing on tools, collaboration, and mindset to enhance testing practices.

Contribution

It introduces a novel survey tool for assessing the socio-technical context of testing, linking technical infrastructure and human factors to testing experience.

Findings

Survey instrument constructed and validated

Hypotheses on factors impacting testing experience

Insights into socio-technical influences on testing practices

Abstract

We consider testing a cooperative and social practice that is shaped by the tools developers use, the tests they write, and their mindsets and human needs. This work is one part of a project that explores the human- and socio-technical context of testing through the lens of those interwoven elements: test suite and tools as technical infrastructure and collaborative factors and motivation as mindset. Drawing on empirical observations of previous work, this survey examines how these factors relate to each other. We want to understand which combination of factors can help developers strive and make the most of their ambitions to leverage the potential that software testing practices have. In this report, we construct a survey instrument to measure the factors that constitute the socio-technical context of testing experience. In addition, we state our hypotheses about how these factors impact testing experience and explain the considerations and process that led to the construction of the survey questions.