Author: kristinjackvony

Logical Fallacies for Testers X: Equivocation

Equivocation is a technique used to mislead others through the use of imprecise language. There are many words in the English language that have more than one meaning, such as the word “light”, which could mean “bright”, or it could mean “not heavy”. It’s also possible to use equivocation by being deliberately ambiguous about time […]

Logical Fallacies for Testers IX: The Red Herring Fallacy

You may have heard of the term “red herring” if you have ever read a mystery story. When a mystery author wants to keep their readers guessing about who the murderer is, they may throw in clues that point to another suspect. These clues are called red herrings. The Red Herring Fallacy is similar; rather […]

Logical Fallacies for Testers VII: The Hasty Generalization Fallacy

The Hasty Generalization Fallacy is a common one in software testing. But before we look at its impact on testing, let’s learn what it is. This fallacy occurs when someone draws a conclusion based on just one example, or a few examples. You may have fallen for the Hasty Generalization Fallacy as a child when […]

Logical Fallacies for Testers V: False Dichotomy

In this installment of my Logical Fallacies series, I’m taking a look at the False Dichotomy fallacy. The False Dichotomy fallacy is used when someone presents two opposing options as if they are the only possibilities; that no middle way exists. This is detrimental to progress because it limits people’s thinking; they feel that they […]

Logical Fallacies for Testers IV: The Straw Man Fallacy

This month I’m continuing my look at logical fallacies with the Straw Man Fallacy. The Straw Man Fallacy occurs when someone takes another person’s position and exaggerates it in an extreme way, or makes a counter-assertion that is not relevant to the first person’s position. This is easier to explain with examples, so let’s take […]

Logical Fallacies for Testers II: The Sunk-Cost Fallacy

In last month’s post, I introduced a new theme for my blog posts in 2023! Each month, I’ll be examining a different type of logical fallacy, and how the fallacy relates to software testing. This month we’ll be learning about the Sunk-Cost Fallacy. The Sunk-Cost Fallacy happens when someone has made a decision that turns […]