test_plan.md

Test Plan for Educational Research Methods Chatbot

Overview

This document outlines the testing approach for the Educational Research Methods Chatbot to ensure it meets the requirements and functions correctly.

Test Environment

• Local development environment
• Python 3.8+
• Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)

Test Categories

1. Functional Testing

1.1 Basic Functionality

• Verify the chatbot starts up correctly
• Confirm the web interface loads properly
• Test that user can input messages
• Verify chatbot responds to user inputs

1.2 Research Methods Knowledge

• Test queries about qualitative research methods
• Test queries about quantitative research methods
• Test queries about mixed methods research
• Verify accuracy of research method recommendations
• Test complex queries requiring understanding of multiple research methods

1.3 Citation Functionality

• Verify responses include APA7 citations
• Check citation format accuracy
• Confirm citations reference actual sources
• Test citation display in the UI

1.4 Conversation Flow

• Test multi-turn conversations
• Verify context is maintained across multiple queries
• Test handling of follow-up questions
• Check conversation history functionality

2. Non-Functional Testing

2.1 Performance

• Measure response time for simple queries
• Measure response time for complex queries
• Test system under multiple concurrent users (if applicable)

2.2 Usability

• Verify responsive design on different screen sizes
• Test accessibility features
• Check UI/UX for intuitiveness
• Verify error messages are clear and helpful

2.3 Error Handling

• Test with malformed queries
• Test with empty inputs
• Verify system handles API failures gracefully
• Test recovery from connection issues

Test Cases

Test Case 1: Basic Query Response

1. Input: "What is qualitative research?"
2. Expected: Accurate definition with APA7 citation
3. Verification: Check response content and citation format

Test Case 2: Method Recommendation

1. Input: "Which research method should I use to study student engagement in online learning?"
2. Expected: Recommendation with rationale and citations
3. Verification: Check appropriateness of recommendation and citation accuracy

Test Case 3: Comparison Query

1. Input: "What are the differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods?"
2. Expected: Comprehensive comparison with examples and citations
3. Verification: Check completeness and accuracy of comparison

Test Case 4: Follow-up Question

1. Input: "Tell me about mixed methods research"
2. Follow-up: "What are the different types of mixed methods designs?"
3. Expected: Contextually aware response to follow-up
4. Verification: Check if context is maintained

Test Case 5: Citation Accuracy

1. Input: "What does the literature say about case studies in educational research?"
2. Expected: Response with multiple citations from educational research literature
3. Verification: Check if citations follow APA7 format and are from valid sources

Test Case 6: Error Handling

1. Input: [Empty message]
2. Expected: Appropriate error message or prompt
3. Verification: Check if system handles empty input gracefully

Test Results Documentation

For each test case, document:

1. Test case ID and description
2. Test input
3. Expected output
4. Actual output
5. Pass/Fail status
6. Notes or observations

Regression Testing

After fixing any issues, rerun relevant test cases to ensure:

• The issue is resolved
• No new issues were introduced

Final Acceptance Criteria

• All test cases pass
• Response accuracy meets or exceeds 90%
• Citation format is 100% compliant with APA7
• UI is responsive and user-friendly
• System handles errors gracefully