Title: A Decision Support Method for Recommending Degrees of Exploration in Exploratory Testing,
Abstract: Exploratory testing is neither black nor white, but rather a continuum of
exploration exists. In this research we propose an approach for decision
support helping practitioners to distribute time between different degrees of
exploratory testing on that continuum. To make the continuum manageable, five
levels have been defined: freestyle testing, high, medium and low degrees of
exploration, and scripted testing. The decision support approach is based on
the repertory grid technique. The approach has been used in one company. The
method for data collection was focus groups. The results showed that the
proposed approach aids practitioners in the reflection of what exploratory
testing levels to use, and aligns their understanding for priorities of
decision criteria and the performance of exploratory testing levels in their
contexts. The findings also showed that the participating company, which is
currently conducting mostly scripted testing, should spend more time on testing
using higher degrees of exploration in comparison to scripted testing.