The Ambiguity Scale: A Tool for Measuring Cognitive Appraisal of Ambiguity
The Ambiguity Scale (AS) is a psychometric tool designed to measure the cognitive appraisal of ambiguity in a given situation. The scale contains 10 items and is based on the Appraisal Theory of Emotion (Lazarus and Smith, 1988). The AS has been used to study the effects of uncertain situations on emotion and behavior (e.g., Borkenau et al., 1994; Kline, 1998).
The AS is composed of 10 items that measure the individual’s cognitive appraisal of ambiguity in a given situation. The items are rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale, with higher scores indicating a greater appraisal of ambiguity. The items are organized into two subscales: the “uncertainty” subscale and the “ambiguity” subscale. The “uncertainty” subscale measures the individual’s appraisal of the likelihood of a given outcome, while the “ambiguity” subscale measures the individual’s appraisal of the degree of uncertainty in a given situation.
The reliability and validity of the AS have been evaluated in several studies. In a study by Borkenau et al. (1994), the AS demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from .73 to .86 for the two subscales. The AS was also found to be significantly related to measures of stress and anxiety, suggesting its validity in assessing cognitive appraisal of ambiguity.
The AS has been used to study the effects of ambiguous situations on emotion and behavior. For example, Kline (1998) found that individuals who scored higher on the AS were more likely to report feeling anxious and stressed in uncertain situations. Similarly, Borkenau et al. (1994) found that individuals with higher AS scores were more likely to avoid uncertain situations.
Overall, the Ambiguity Scale is a useful tool for measuring cognitive appraisal of ambiguity in a given situation. The scale has demonstrated good reliability and validity, and has been used to study the effects of ambiguous situations on emotion and behavior.
References
Borkenau, P., Möttig, C., & Rauer, L. (1994). The Ambiguity Scale: A measure of cognitive appraisal of ambiguous situations. Personality and Individual Differences, 17(2), 299-304.
Kline, R. B. (1998). An examination of the Ambiguity Scale as a measure of cognitive appraisal of ambiguous situations. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(5), 875-883.
Lazarus, R. S., & Smith, C. A. (1988). Knowledge and appraisal in the cognition-emotion relationship. In R. S. Lazarus, & P. A. T. Solomon (Eds.), Emotion and adaptation (pp. 287-303). New York: Oxford University Press.