Software Quality Assurance Practice Exam

What is the purpose of debugging by induction?

1. To review the entire system at once

2. To identify patterns based on specific instances

3. To eliminate possibilities systematically

4. To gather user feedback during execution

The correct answer is: To identify patterns based on specific instances

Debugging by induction focuses on identifying patterns or principles that can be derived from specific instances of errors or behaviors observed in the system being tested. This method allows a tester or developer to analyze various occurrences of a problem and generalize findings to apply to broader situations. By examining specific cases, one can infer rules or hypotheses about the underlying issues that might be causing these errors. This approach is particularly useful in complex systems where the problem may not be immediately clear, and experimenting with different areas of the code or configurations can yield insights. By recognizing patterns, the finding from one instance can help inform the resolution of similar issues elsewhere in the system, leading to more efficient debugging. Consider how this contrasts with other methods. For instance, reviewing the entire system at once may overwhelm the tester with too much information without providing focused insights. Eliminating possibilities systematically tends to be more aligned with deductive reasoning rather than induction, as it relies on ruling out what is known to be incorrect rather than building understanding from specific instances. Gathering user feedback during execution is valuable for understanding user experiences and needs, but it does not directly address the logical analysis of errors inherent in debugging by induction. Hence, identifying patterns based on specific instances stands out as the most accurate reflection of the purpose of