| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Description | The Scale of Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity, developed by Budner in 1962, is designed to assess an individual’s tendency to either perceive ambiguous situations as threats (intolerance) or as desirable challenges (tolerance). The scale was developed using data from 17 different samples, including students from various disciplines such as sociology, business, psychology, engineering, and medicine. The initial pool contained 33 items, each with six response categories ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” Items were selected based on their ability to tap into two substantive criteria: perceived threat indicators and types of ambiguous situations. The final scale consists of 16 items, with an equal balance of positively and negatively worded statements. Reliability and validity data have been provided for the scale. |
| Author | Budner, Stanley |
| Purpose | To examine tolerance and intolerance of ambiguity. |
| Construct | Intolerance of Ambiguity; Tolerance of Ambiguity |
| Instrument Type | Rating Scale |
| Test Format | Respondents check one of six response categories: strongly agree, moderately agree, slightly agree, slightly disagree, moderately disagree, or strongly disagree. Positive items are scored from 7 (strongly agree) to 1 (strongly disagree). Negative items are scored in reverse. Omissions are scored 4. |
| Test Items Available | No, please contact the publisher for further information. |
| Reliability | Reliability was computed using Cronbach’s alpha, with the mean scale score in the samples being approximately 49. |
| Validity | Validity was confirmed through correlations with other scales of intolerance of ambiguity, as well as rankings based on autobiographies and peer ratings. The scale correlates with conventionality, belief in a divine power, dogmatism, authoritarianism, and attitudes toward censorship. It also relates to career choices among medical students and evaluations of preferred fields of practice. |
| Factor Analysis | No factor analysis indicated |
| Test Methodology | Reliability and validity based on empirical data, with correlations to various psychological and social attitudes. |
| Classification | Personality |
| Age Group | Adulthood (18 years & older) |
| Population Group | Human; Male; Female |
| Population Details | Location: United States; Sample: Undergraduate, Graduate, Medical, and Adult Education Students |
| Keywords | Personality Measures; Scale of Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity; Test Development; Psychometric Properties |
| Index Terms | Personality Measures; Test Construction; Test Reliability; Test Validity; Tolerance for Ambiguity |
| Reference | Budner, S. (1962). Intolerance of ambiguity as a personality variable. Journal of Personality, 30(1), 29–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1962.tb02303.x |
Cite this article
Mohammed looti (2026). Scale of Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/scale-of-tolerance-intolerance-of-ambiguity/
Mohammed looti. "Scale of Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 4 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/scale-of-tolerance-intolerance-of-ambiguity/.
Mohammed looti. "Scale of Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/scale-of-tolerance-intolerance-of-ambiguity/.
Mohammed looti (2026) 'Scale of Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/scale-of-tolerance-intolerance-of-ambiguity/.
[1] Mohammed looti, "Scale of Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.
Mohammed looti. Scale of Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.