Final answer:
The described programming approach is top-down debugging, a debugging strategy that breaks down the program into regions to identify and fix bugs through a hypothesis-driven process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The approach used by the programmer in the question is known as top-down debugging. This method involves breaking down a program into separate regions or modules and hypothesizing that each region may contain a bug. Upon identifying a region that seems problematic, the programmer further generates sub-hypotheses for that region to pinpoint and resolve the specific issue. This is part of a debugging strategy where smaller, more manageable problems (sub-problems) are addressed individually to effectively solve the larger overall problem.
This practice aligns with hypothesis-based science, which involves using deductive reasoning to test specific situations based on general premises. It also echoes a common problem-solving strategy where large tasks are decomposed into series of smaller steps, making them less daunting and more manageable to tackle.