Authors Gaps
Arquero Ambiguity tolerance’s
et. Al. relationship with
(2017) communication
apprehension is
measured using formal
and informal subscales.
*Study is conducted in a
relational manner focusing
on the learning styles and
the need of its
improvement while results
apprehension of a person
in communicating in
ambiguous situations.
Further view on related
literature pertaining the
latter is necessary
Chen and The study focused on the
Lovibond intolerance of uncertainty
(2016) while considering
intolerance for ambiguity
as an associated
construct. Ambiguity of
the situation is considered
a powerful trigger Biased
threat appraisal
*The study used a
person’s tolerance for
ambiguity as an important
factor in conceptualizing
the research though the
main study is focused to
intolerance of uncertainty
as a construct under
generalized anxiety
disorder.
Chu et. Al. (a) The intolerance of
(2015) ambiguity as a variable
should be put into a
context by context
application.
Supporting statements
(a) The study conducted
by Arquero et. Al. (2017)
involves the use of two
questionnaire mainly
categorized between
formal setting and informal
setting.
(b) People perceive
interview and conversation
setting as a place where
unexpected and
ambiguous situations to
happen where you are
prompted to give an
immediate response
(Arquero et. Al., 2017)
Individuals with high
intolerance for uncertainty
are more likely to overthink
negative outcomes in
times of ambiguous
situation… One group
shows difference in longer
decision latencies when
faced with ambiguous
tasks…A person’s level of
intolerance for uncertainty
affects their capability in
dealing with ambiguous
threat (Chen & Lovibond ,
2016).
(a)The level of ambiguity
tolerance in one context
cannot be seen as a level
of ambiguity tolerance into
another context. The
impact of ambiguity
tolerance into another
variable can be mitigated
by the context it is applied
Direction for the study
(a) Can studied
focusing on the
reluctances a person
to communicate in
ambiguous situations
and/or a its reasons.
(b)Talking about
communication and
the conceptual
meaning of
communication
apprehension, a study
pertaining what is the
relation of level of a
person’s intolerance
for ambiguity or
otherwise to the
anxiety a person.
Study pertaining to a
person’s flexibility in
relation to the persons
tolerance for
ambiguity can be
conducted.
(a) as a context by
context construct as
mentioned by the
researcher’s
intolerance for
ambiguity can
correlated to the
language
comprehension of a

(b) The significance of
Chinese culture
immersion of the person
as a significant mediating
variable.
*As by context to context
view of intolerance for
ambiguity comparisons of
its application can further
the study on the said field.
The study relates
tolerance for ambiguity to
different learning
strategies, this can be
seen as a context by
context application of the
construct.
Heydari (a) Link between
et. Al. entrepreneurship
(2013) orientation and many
different variables is
established.
*mentions of relation
between tolerance of
ambiguity and self-
efficacy is not established.
The focused of the study
directs between
entrepreneurship and the
other variables.
(b) Entrepreneurship as a
variable is linked to
creativity and innovation
Ma and Structure-seeking or its
Kay’s opposite is linked to
(2017) intolerance of ambiguity.
Perceived control of a
person is linked
intolerance of ambiguity.
to (Chu et. Al., 2015).
(b) Chu et. Al. (2015)
mentioned that a
significant limitation of the
research is the lack of
control to the cultural and
educational background of
the participants.
(a) Ambiguity tolerance
and self-esteem have a
meaningful positive
relationship (Heydari et.
Al., 2013).
(b) it is found that there is
a skewing between
correlation between
entrepreneurship
orientation and creative
and innovative
characteristics of a person
(Heydari et. Al., 2013).
Ma and Kay’s (2017) in
their study found that
people with chronic low
levels of perceived control
are people who especially
seek structured
person, while also
having comparisons
to what type of
situation or dialogue
the comprehension is
applied to.
(b) As Chinese culture
serves as a significant
mediating variable in
determining the
persons tolerance for
ambiguity in the
study. Comparisons
between the
collectivist and
individualistic
perspective in level of
tolerance can be
conducted.
(a) Relation between
self-efficacy and
intolerance for
ambiguity and
uncertain situations
can be studied.
(b) A persons
innovative and/or
creative quality can
be directly studied as
it is correlated to
intolerance of
ambiguity.
(a) Flexibility of
thinking can be
correlated or used as
a predictor of a
person’s intolerance
for ambiguity.

* Though in first glance
lack of structure an
ambiguity tolerance can
be seen as similar, stark
difference between the
two is present and must
be viewed.
Nakhostin High intolerance for
-Ansari et. ambiguity helps the
Al. (2021) students to cope in times
of novel situations.
*questions involving how
and what factors help the
students to cope to
ambiguous situations
floated, what variables
may have been present
that helps them to be
ready to respond to novel
situations and are those
variables related to
intolerance for ambiguity
itself or do they work as a
whole.
Sato and Negative thinking is more
Luyten, present to people with
(2018) higher rejection sensitivity
when they are put in
ambiguous situations.
*questions regarding how
a person view and
welcome experience in
their life and how is it
related to their intolerance
of ambiguity arose.
Wayne et. Decrease in attitude of
Al. (2011) students to the
undeserved in ambiguous
situations.
Xu & The level of a person’s
Tracy, tolerance for ambiguity is
(2014) found to be directly
environments.
Results showed that
participants in the program
become less tolerant of
ambiguity in novel
situations (Nakhostin-
Ansari et. Al., 2021)
Sato and Luyten, (2018)
found that current findings
suggest that more rejection
sensitive people are more
intolerant of ambiguity
because they expect
negative things to happen
when place on ambiguous
situations, thus becoming
more aversive to it.
Wayne et. Al. (2011),
found in their study that
those who are tolerant of
ambiguity are more less
likely to have decline of
attitude towards those who
are underserved.
Individuals with a high
ambiguity tolerance could
better use the information
(b) Multiple workplace
culture can be used
as a variable
(c) Workings styles
can be categorized
and linked to
intolerance for
ambiguity
(a) questions of a
person’s creativity
and thinking flexibility
can be established
(b) Styles of problem
solving can be used
an associate to a
person’s level of
intolerance for
ambiguity.
The big five
personality traits
particularly openness
can be used and
linked to the level of
intolerance for
ambiguity. The big
five can be used as a
category or as how is
the person rated per
category
Question about the
empathy level of a
person and how much
they do not tolerate
ambiguity arise.
Question of how
decisive a person is
and how it is linked to
 correlated to their decision
making.
gathered during the propensity to not
environmental exploration tolerate ambiguity is
to resolve informational asked.
conflicts, whereas those
with a low ambiguity
tolerance are less likely to
integrate unreliable or
conflictual information by
gathering more information
about the situation (Xu &
Tracy, 2014).

Common themes observe in the studies is the use (university) students as participants to
the study, other demographic is not considered or is more less likely used. Common gaps
involve the level of how flexible a person’s thinking is, though some studies mentioned flexibility
in ambiguous situations it is not directly studied if the said persons level of intolerance for
ambiguity is a predictor of it or is related to it. Another common theme found involves the need
for the use of constructs that are used for communication (e.g. language comprehension &
anxiety level when communicating). This common theme observed can be used as guide for
directions for future research. It must also be noted that further reading of journal articles related
to the said observed themes is necessary and a must to establish the variables that will be used
in the study.