What does the term effectiveness refer to in software testing?

Effectiveness in software testing specifically refers to the ability to achieve intended results. This means that the testing process successfully identifies defects and verifies that the software behaves as expected according to the requirements. A high level of effectiveness indicates that the testing efforts are successful in uncovering critical issues that could impact the software's functionality and user satisfaction.

This focus on achieving the desired outcomes is crucial in ensuring that software not only works correctly but also meets the needs of stakeholders. In an agile testing context, the effectiveness of testing efforts can directly impact the overall quality and delivery of the software product, as it emphasizes the importance of validating features against user expectations and relevant specifications.

In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of the testing process. Efficiency, for example, deals with how well resources are utilized during testing, while the speed of defect resolution pertains to the time taken to fix identified issues. Thoroughness of test coverage concerns the extent to which testing encompasses all possible scenarios and requirements. Each of these aspects contributes to the overall quality assurance process but does not directly define effectiveness in the context of achieving intended testing outcomes.