Question

I feel software test design, and by that, I mean the approach to determining what tests should be executed in order to perform software testing as efficiently and effectively as possible, is often not given as much attention as it deserves. As a result:

• Inefficiency arises because too much repetition exists from one test to the next
• Defects are not found; testers are not aware of essential strategies to use during testing
• Ineffectiveness arises; more defects slip past testing than should because pairwise and combinatorial test design methods are not used as often as they should be

Question: what text books (and/or other sources) do the best job at explaining software test design methods?

Answer 1

Lee Copeland's "A Practioner's Guide to Software Test Design" should be required reading for any tester interested in software test design (and, for that matter, every serious software tester). It is an excellent, classic, text that is amusing as well as informative. It is solidly geared towards software testing practitioners and explains many techniques which can be immediately put to good use. If you agree, please vote this up. More testers should read this book. If you know of other good sources, please post your separate answer.

Thanks.

It is available on Amazon here:

Answer 2

I would also recommend the art of software testing by myers

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• Added by Justin... (yes, edits of other people's posts to add useful information is allowed here)
• See reviews of this book on Amazon here:
• For what it is worth, I found this one particularly interesting because it is written by Cem Kaner who I respect a lot and it points out significant pro's and con's...