Lab
Lab research is done to test your ideas with the users of your product. You use lab research to learn if things work out the way you intended them.
A/B testing
Why? A minor change in a design may alter user behaviour in ways that are hard to detect in a usability test. An A/B test allows you to compare real-world user behaviour across different versions of a product.
Component test
Why? Test a subsystem or component in isolation to ensure its correctness before integrating it with other components or modules.
Computer simulation
Why? Computer simulations are used when a real-world process, system or event situation is not available or feasible.
Hardware validation
Why? Hardware does not always perform according to its specifications. Hardware validation ensures that the hardware performs as expected and excludes hardware as a source of errors.
Inferential statistics
Why? To test hypothesis based on a quantitative dataset.
Model validation
Why? Ensure that your model produces results of sufficient quality to base your conclusions on.
Non-functional test
Why? Test the operating conditions under which the system delivers its intended functions.
Security test
Why? Understand the security risks of an IT system.
System test
Why? Solve problems before your system goes into production and demonstrate that the system operates according to its requirements.
Unit test
Why? Find certain types of bugs as early as possible and ensure your code keeps running after a change.
Usability testing
Why? Detect problems users have with your solution and correct them before the system goes live.