Software Quality Assurance Practice Exam

Select the correct black box testing type that shows the connection between a given outcome and all issues that manipulate the outcome.

1. Boundary value analysis

2. Cause-effect graphing

3. Equivalence partitioning

4. Decision table testing

The correct answer is: Cause-effect graphing

The choice of cause-effect graphing as the correct black box testing type reflects its unique approach to understanding the relationship between different inputs (causes) and outputs (effects) in a system. It is particularly useful in scenarios where the outcome of a function may be influenced by multiple conditions or factors. In cause-effect graphing, the tester typically constructs a graph that maps out all possible causes and their corresponding effects. This visual representation helps in identifying how different input conditions can lead to specific outcomes, making it easier to derive test cases that exercise these relationships. By analyzing the connections between various causes and resulting effects, testers can create comprehensive test scenarios that reveal how combinations of conditions affect the system. This method is especially beneficial in systems with complex logic, where multiple factors can interact in non-linear ways. The systematic nature of cause-effect graphing helps ensure that all relevant pathways through the logic are tested, which in turn increases the thoroughness of the testing process. In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of testing: boundary value analysis emphasizes testing at the edges of input ranges, equivalence partitioning focuses on dividing inputs into equivalent classes, and decision table testing organizes different conditions into a table format to evaluate various combinations of inputs and actions. While these