Evaluating the accuracy of defect estimation models based on inspection data from two inspection cycles
Stefan Biffl, Wilfried Grossmann · International Conference on Software Engineering · 2001
Defect content estimation techniques (DCETs), based on defect data from inspection, estimate the total number of defects in a document to evaluate the development process. For inspections that yield few data points DCETs reportedly underestimate the number of defects. If there is a second inspection cycle, the additional defect data is expected to increase estimation accuracy. In this paper we consider 3 scenarios to combine data sets from the inspection-reinspection process. We evaluate these approaches with data from an experiment in a university environment where 31 teams inspected and reinspected a software requirements document. Main findings of the experiment were that reinspection data improved estimation accuracy. With the best combination approach all examined estimators yielded on average estimates within 20% around the true value, all estimates stayed within 40% around the true value.