These are journal articles and books that will help you become educated about cognitive and systems dynamics of exploration, which is a core part of software testing.
Journal Articles
MacFarquhar, L. (2018, March 26). The Mind-Expanding Ideas of Andy Clark. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/02/the-mind-expanding-ideas-of-andy-clark
Dema, T., Brereton, M., Cappadonna, J. L., Roe, P., Truskinger, A., & Zhang, J. (2017). Collaborative Exploration and Sensemaking of Big Environmental Sound Data. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), 26(4–6), 693–731. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10606-017-9286-9
Di Blas, N., Mazuran, M., Paolini, P., Quintarelli, E., & Tanca, L. (2017). Exploratory computing: a comprehensive approach to data sensemaking. International Journal of Data Science and Analytics, 3(1), 61–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41060-016-0039-5
Schulz, L. (2015). Infants explore the unexpected. Science, 348(6230), 42–43. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aab0582
Xu, K., Attfield, S., Jankun-Kelly, T. J., Wheat, A., Nguyen, P. H., & Selvaraj, N. (2015). Analytic Provenance for Sensemaking: A Research Agenda. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, 35(3), 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1109/MCG.2015.50
Nolting, B. C. (2013). Random search models of foraging behavior: theory, simulation, and observation. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/mathstudent/49/
James, A., Plank, M. J., & Edwards, A. M. (2011). Assessing Lévy walks as models of animal foraging. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 8(62), 1233–1247. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2011.0200
James, A., Plank, M. J., & Edwards, A. M. (2011). Assessing Levy walks as models of animal foraging. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 8(62), 1233–1247. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2011.0200
Bonawitz, E., Shafto, P., Gweon, H., Goodman, N. D., Spelke, E., & Schulz, L. (2011). The double-edged sword of pedagogy: Instruction limits spontaneous exploration and discovery. Cognition, 120(3), 322–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2010.10.001
Attfield, S., & Blandford, A. (2010). Discovery-led refinement in e-discovery investigations: sensemaking, cognitive ergonomics and system design. Artificial Intelligence and Law, 18(4), 387–412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10506-010-9091-y
Reynolds, A. M. (2009). Lévy flight patterns are predicted to be an emergent property of a bumblebees’ foraging strategy. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 64(1), 19–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-009-0813-7
Christiansen, J. K., & Varnes, C. J. (2009). Formal Rules in Product Development: Sensemaking of Structured Approaches. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 26(5), 502–519. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5885.2009.00677.x
Plank, M. J., & James, A. (2008). Optimal foraging: Levy pattern or process? Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 5(26), 1077–1086. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2008.0006
Schulz, L. E., & Bonawitz, E. B. (2007). Serious fun: Preschoolers engage in more exploratory play when evidence is confounded. Developmental Psychology, 43(4), 1045–1050. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.43.4.1045
Klein, G., Moon, B., & Hoffman, R. R. (2006). Making Sense of Sensemaking 1: Alternative Perspectives. IEEE Intelligent Systems, 21(4), 70–73. https://doi.org/10.1109/MIS.2006.75
Weick, K. E., Sutcliffe, K. M., & Obstfeld, D. (2005). Organizing and the Process of Sensemaking. Organization Science, 16(4), 409–421. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1050.0133
Pirolli, P., & Card, S. (2005). The sensemaking process and leverage points for analyst technology as identified through cognitive task analysis. Proceedings of International Conference on Intelligence Analysis, 2–4. https://analysis.mitre.org/proceedings/Final_Papers_Files/206_Camera_Ready_Paper.pdf
Heinrich, B., & Bugnyar, T. (2005). Testing problem solving in ravens: String-pulling to reach food. Ethology, 111(10), 962–976. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2005.01133.x/full
Dervin, B. (1998). Sense‐making theory and practice: an overview of user interests in knowledge seeking and use. Journal of Knowledge Management, 2(2), 36–46. https://doi.org/10.1108/13673279810249369
Okada, T., & Simon, H. A. (1997). Collaborative Discovery in a Scientific Domain. Cognitive Science, 21(2), 109–146. https://doi.org/http://www.ssatisfice.com/articles/collaboration.pdf
Chittka, L., Gumbert, A., & Kunze, J. (1997). Foraging dynamics of bumble bees: correlates of movements within and between plant species. Behavioral Ecology, 8(3), 239–249. http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/8/3/239.short
Hill, R. C., & Levenhagen, M. (1995). Metaphors and Mental Models: Sensemaking and Sensegiving in Innovative and Entrepreneurial Activities. Journal of Management, 21(6), 1057–1074. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639502100603
Weick, K. E. (1993). The Collapse of Sensemaking in Organizations: The Mann Gulch Disaster. Administrative Science Quarterly, 38(4), 628. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393339
Thomas, J. B., Clark, S. M., & Gioia, D. A. (1993). Strategic Sensemaking and Organizational Performance: Linkages Among Scanning, Interpretation, Action, and Outcomes. Academy of Management Journal, 36(2), 239–270. https://doi.org/10.5465/256522
Johnson, R. A. (1991). Learning, Memory, and Foraging Efficiency in Two Species of Desert Seed-Harvester Ants. Ecology, 72(4), 1408–1419. https://doi.org/10.2307/1941112
Simon, H. A. (1991). The Architecture of Complexity. In G. J. Klir, Facets of Systems Science (pp. 457–476). Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0718-9_31
Weick, K. E. (1988). ENACTED SENSEMAKING IN CRISIS SITUATIONS [1]. Journal of Management Studies, 25(4), 305–317. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.1988.tb00039.x
Dreyfus, H. L., Drey-fus, S. E., & Zadeh, L. A. (1987). Mind over Machine: The Power of Human Intuition and Expertise in the Era of the Computer. IEEE Expert, 2(2), 110–111. https://doi.org/10.1109/MEX.1987.4307079
Pierce, G. J., & Ollason, J. G. (1987). Eight Reasons Why Optimal Foraging Theory Is a Complete Waste of Time. Oikos, 49(1), 111. https://doi.org/10.2307/3565560
Mangel, M., & Clark, C. W. (1986). Towards a Unifield Foraging Theory. Ecology, 67(5), 1127–1138. https://doi.org/10.2307/1938669
Hubert, & Dreyfus, S. (1986). Why Expert Systems Do Not Exhibit Expertise. IEEE Expert, 1(2), 86–90. https://doi.org/10.1109/MEX.1986.4306957
Pyke, G. H. (1984). Optimal foraging theory: a critical review. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 15(1), 523–575. http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.es.15.110184.002515
Franks, N. R., & Fletcher, C. R. (1983). Spatial Patterns in Army Ant Foraging and Migration: Eciton burchelli on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 12(4), 261–270. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4599590
Mintzberg, H., Raisinghani, D., & Theoret, A. (1976). The Structure of “Unstructured” Decision Processes. Administrative Science Quarterly, 21(2), 246. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392045
Charnov, E. L. (1976). Optimal foraging, the marginal value theorem. Theoretical Population Biology, 9(2), 129–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-5809(76)90040-X
Pryor, K. W., Haag, R., & O’Reilly, J. (1969). The creative porpoise: training for novel behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 12(4), 653–661. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1969.12-653
Books in My Library
Goldschmidt, G. (2014). Linkography: unfolding the design process. The MIT Press.
Besser, M., Roberts, I., & Walsh, M. (2013). The Upright Citizens Brigade comedy improvisation manual (First Edition). Comedy Council of Nicea.
Jencks, C., & Silver, N. (2013). Adhocism: the case for improvisation (Expanded and updated edition). MIT Press.
Pellis, S., & Pellis, V. (2011). The playful brain: venturing to the limits of neuroscience. Oneworld.
Gigerenzer, G. (2007). Gut feelings: the intelligence of the unconscious. Viking.
Klahr, D. (2002). Exploring Science: The Cognition and Development of Discovery Processes. The MIT Press.
Stebbins, R. A. (2001). Exploratory research in the social sciences. Sage Publications.
Feynman, R. P. (2001). The pleasure of finding things out: the best short works of Richard P. Feynman. Penguin.
Simon, H. A. (1996). The sciences of the artificial (3rd ed). MIT Press.
Weick, K. E. (1995). Sensemaking in organizations. Sage Publications.
Petroski, H. (1992). To engineer is human: the role of failure in successful design (1st Vintage Books ed). Vintage Books.
Nachmanovitch, S. (1990). Free play: improvisation in life and art. Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.
Solow, D. (1990). How to read and do proofs: an introduction to mathematical thought processes (2nd ed). Wiley.
Polya, G. (1990). Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning: Volume II Patterns of Plausible Inference. Princeton University Press.
Polya, G. (1990). Mathematics and plausible reasoning. Princeton University Press.
Gause, D. C. (1989). Exploring requirements: quality before design. Dorset House Pub.
Weick, K. E. (1979). The Social Psychology of Organizing (Topics in Social Psychology Series). McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.
Hartwig, F. (1979). Exploratory data analysis. Sage Publications.
Tukey, J. W. (1977). Exploratory data analysis. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co.
Reilly, M. (1974). Play as Exploratory Learning: Studies of Curiosity Behavior. Sage Publications, Inc.
Pólya, G. (1971). How to solve it; a new aspect of mathematical method (2d ed). Princeton University Press.
Sandison, H. (1886). The Theory of the School. C.W. Brown. https://books.google.nl/books?id=RgJFAAAAIAAJ