Association For Computing Machinery Press, New York, NY, USA
Doi
Abstract
A number of authors have considered the problem of comparing test sets and criteria. Ideally
test sets are compared using a preorder with the property that test set T1 is at least as strong
as T2 if whenever T2 determines that an implementation p is faulty, T1 will also determine that
p is faulty. This notion can be extended to test criteria. However, it has been noted that very
few test sets and criteria are comparable under such an ordering; instead orderings are based
on weaker properties such as subsumes. This paper explores an alternative approach, in which
comparisons are made in the presence of a test hypothesis or fault domain. This approach allows
strong statements about fault detecting ability to be made and yet for a number of test sets and
criteria to be comparable. It may also drive incremental test generation
