Is there a name for this test methodology where we start with simple tests and proceed to more comp?

Factual Questions
1

Is there a name for this test methodology where we start with simple tests and then proceed to more complex ones?

Sometimes there’s a quick and dirty test, that while not accurate, it can rule out certain possibilities and depending on the outcome we can proceed using other more accurate methods or abandon the test altogether.

For example, testing a car battery with a multimeter is inaccurate, because there are cases where it can show full voltage and yet the battery cannot hold any charge. However the first thing every technician does is to stick a multimeter on the battery, because if it shows some ridiculously low voltage then we know for sure that the battery is dead and there’s no need to do any further testing, eg with a carbon pile load tester.

Is there a name for this escalation of testing?

2

“separating the wheat from the chaff?”

3

Funny, I learned a lot of procedures in science that do that but I never came across a term to describe it. In marketing, it’s called “funneling down.” The closest I can think of is in qualitative chemistry: dissociation (meaning separation, not to be confused with the other term in chemistry ‘dissociation’ which is when compounds in solution split into smaller particles.)

4

A sieve - since the simple tests tend to be less refined and give only gross results?

5

Perhaps “breadth first” as opposed to “depth first” testing.

“Breadth first” meaning that you do superficial and perfunctory tests first that can potentially detect (or reject) a wide variety of cases, and only then proceed to do the more detailed tests needed for a few conditions that the preliminary tests indicated.

As opposed to “depth first” testing, where you would make some initial guesses (based on the initial presentation) of where the problem may lie, and then start by doing detailed (“in-depth”) testing for the cases you guessed at. You are gambling that your initial guesses will be right, and you are investing a lot of effort in those guesses. If that works out, you win. If not, you are out your investment in the testing effort you did, and you have to start over at Square One with a different guess.

6

Most guys refer to it as process of elimination. I usually do start with quick and dirty tests on a truck just to get an idea where I am at.

7

Troubleshooting

8

process

in science you might follow a process to identify something from its characteristics. these might be visual observations or tests. you would follow what could be displayed on a flow chart.

similar for technical problems like electricity, electronics, fluid flow you would do observations and tests to identify a problem.

9

Hey, I like the term ‘process.’

In microscopy: from low magnification to high magnification, from simple observation to complex observation

In technical charting: from medium- horizon to short term, from simple chart patterns to oscillation and stochastics.

In mineralogy: segregate metallic from non-metallic, then each group by color, spec gravity texture, cleavage, streak, other diagnostic features.

10

In medicine, you’d do a screening test followed by a diagnostic test along those principles.

11

If you read Highlights Magazine, it’s called Brainplay (formally Headwork)!