The phrase "exploratory phase" means a time or period when someone is trying or experimenting to learn or find out about something new. It is like a stage of curiosity and discovery.
Sentences with «exploratory phase»
«We're still in the very early exploratory phases of this type of work,» Gross told the Chattanooga Times Free Press. (emoryhealthsciblog.com)
More puzzling was the observation that some neurons were also active, albeit only transiently, in the initial exploratory phases of mating with a female. (scientificamerican.com)