Perceptions about Software Testing among UAE Software Students

Abstract

Software testing is one of the crucial supporting processes of software life cycle. Unfortunately for the software industry, the role is stigmatized, partly due to misperception and partly due to the treatment of the testing role within the software industry. The present study aims to analyse this situation to explore what might inhibit an individual from taking up a software testing career. In order to investigate this issue, we surveyed 132 senior students pursuing a degree in computer science and information and communication technology (ICT) related areas at three universities in the United Arab Emirates: UAE University in Al Ain, Sharjah University in Sharjah and New York University in Abu Dhabi. The students were asked to describe the PROs and CONs of taking up a career in software testing, and to describe the likelihood that they would take up the career themselves. The study identified 7 main PROs and 9 main CONs for pursuing a testing career, and indicated that the role of software tester is perceived as a social role, which may require as many soft skills as technical knowledge. The results also show that the UAE students have a stronger negative attitude towards software testing than do their counterparts where similar investigations have been carried out in different countries in the past three years.