Which of the following is a best practice when conducting user acceptance testing?

User acceptance testing (UAT) is a crucial phase in the software development lifecycle that ensures the software meets the needs and requirements of the end users. Having testers work independently from developers is a best practice in UAT for several reasons.

Firstly, independent testers are more likely to provide an unbiased perspective on the software, as they are not influenced by the development processes or the internal knowledge that developers possess. This independence allows them to evaluate the software from an end-user viewpoint, focusing on how well it meets business requirements and user expectations.

Furthermore, this separation encourages a more robust quality assurance process, where testers can offer insights based on actual user scenarios rather than technical constraints that developers might emphasize. Their independence ensures that the testing is not focused just on technical correctness but rather on user satisfaction and functionality in real-world situations.

In contrast, having developers act as testers could lead to a lack of critical perspective and bias due to their familiarity with the product. This is particularly true if they are evaluating areas they have built themselves, which may overlook potential usability issues.

Overall, maintaining this independent testing role helps assure that the feedback received during acceptance testing is comprehensive, highlighting areas that require attention from a user perspective, thus ultimately leading to a higher quality product.