How to test the inside of your head

Liz Keogh

@lunivore

A story because we all love

sleeping

Observe data

Filter data

Generate assumptions

Draw conclusions

Build beliefs

Cydonia, Viking 1, 1976

Cydonia, Viking 1, 1976

Scenarios

Given a context

When an event happens

Then an outcome should occur

Examples

Given Fred has bought a microwave

And the microwave cost £100

When we refund the microwave

Then Fred should be refunded £100.

Is there a context in which this event will create a different outcome?

Context Questioning

Cydonia, Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter, 2006

Martian channels by Percival Lowell

Confirmation Bias

Think we’re right

Look for validation Feel really good!

Confirmation Bias

Think we’re right

Find out we’re not Boo!

Google effect

Apophenia Pareidolia

Confirmation Bias

Actor-Observer

Bias

Illusion of Control

Insensitivity to sample

size

Omission bias

Negativity bias

Naïve cynicism

Fundamental Attribution

Error

System justification

Worse-than-average effect

Illusion of transparency

Trait ascryption

bias

Cryptomnesia

Choice-supportive

bias Forer effect

Normalcy bias

Bandwagon effect

Decoy effect

Hyperbolic discounting

Restraint bias

Stereotyping

Distinction bias

Pseudocertainty effect

Pessimism bias

Optimism bias

Moral luck

False consensus

effect

Anchoring

Congruence bias

Overconfidence effect

Loss Aversion

159 Cognitive Biases on Wikipedia

Observe data

Filter data

Generate assumptions

Draw conclusions

Build beliefs

Scenarios

Given a context

When an event happens

Then an outcome should occur

Traditional

Rework

Developers Testers

Deliberate Discovery skills

Behavior Driven Development

Less Rework

Developers Testers

Deliberate Discovery skills

Testers

Is there a context in which this event will create a different outcome?

Context Questioning

Is this the only outcome that matters?

Outcome Questioning

Options have value.

Options expire.

Never commit early unless you know why.

The Huddle

Developer

Is there a different context which might have produced

this outcome?

Assumption Questioning

“Nobody loves me.”

A story because we all love

sleeping

Liz Keogh liz@lunivore.com @lunivore