Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity Scale – TIA
Measures an individual's cognitive style regarding the tendency to perceive ambiguous situations as sources of threat or desirable challenges.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity Scale – TIA was developed by Stanley Budner (1962). It is designed to measure Intolerance of Ambiguity. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 16 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Novelty, Complexity, Insolubility.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Novelty | 2,9,11,13 | 4 |
| Complexity | 4,5,6,7,8,10,14,15,16 | 9 |
| Insolubility | 1,3,12 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Strongly Disagree, 1 = Moderately Disagree, 2 = Slightly Disagree, 3 = Slightly Agree, 4 = Moderately Agree, 5 = Strongly Agree.
The scale includes 9 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 80. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Intolerance (High Tolerance of Ambiguity): 0 – 26
- Moderate Intolerance of Ambiguity: 27 – 53
- High Intolerance (Low Tolerance of Ambiguity): 54 – 80
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.