Tolerance for Ambiguity Scale – TAS
Measures an individual's tolerance for ambiguous, unfamiliar, or complex situations across multiple dimensions.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Tolerance for Ambiguity Scale – TAS was developed by Herman, J. L., Stevens, M. J., Bird, A., Mendenhall, M., & Oddou, G. (2010). It is designed to measure Tolerance for Ambiguity. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Diverse-others, Change, Challenging perspectives, Unfamiliarity.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Diverse-others | 1,2,5,6 | 4 |
| Change | 3,7 | 2 |
| Challenging perspectives | 8,9,10 | 3 |
| Unfamiliarity | 4,11,12 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 7 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 12 to 60. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Tolerance for Ambiguity: 12 – 27
- Moderate Tolerance for Ambiguity: 28 – 44
- High Tolerance for Ambiguity: 45 – 60
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Diverse-others: 0.58, Change: 0.51, Challenging perspectives: 0.56, Unfamiliarity: 0.53.
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.