RELATIONSHIPS OF TOLERANCE OF AMBIGUITY, PREFERENCE FOR PROCESSING INFORMATION IN THE MIXED MODE TO DIFFERENTIATION IN FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENTS: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE HOMEODYNAMIC PRINCIPLE OF HELICY (NURSING).
Contributors: New York University.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 96
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among the variables differentiation, tolerance of ambiguity, and preference for processing information in the mixed mode. This study was based on Rogers' principle of helicy. Rogers (1983) postulates that the direction of change is toward diverse human patterning. The specific manifestation of diverse human patterning was operationalized by the variables differentiation, tolerance of ambiguity, and preference for processing information in the mixed mode. The hypothesized relationships and the research question were as follows: tolerance of ambiguity is positively related to differentiation, independent of preference for processing information in the mixed mode; preference for processing information in the mixed mode is positively related to differentiation, independent of tolerance of ambiguity; and do tolerance of ambiguity and preference for processing information in the mixed mode interact with respect to differentiation.

A volunteer sample of 225 female college students between the ages of 18 to 25 years were given three paper and pencil tests: the Psychological Differentiation Inventory; Ambiguity-Tolerance Scales; Visualizer-Verbalizer Questionnaire. A coded demographic information sheet was also completed by the participants. Group testing sessions were conducted in college classrooms.

The specific findings, of this study, indicated that tolerance of ambiguity was positively related to differentiation, independent of preference for processing information in the mixed mode. The statistical analysis yielded a beta weight =.184, F = 7.59, p =.006. There was no significant relationship found between preference for processing information in the mixed mode to differentiation. The statistical analysis yielded a beta weight =.014, F =.045, p =.832. Further analyses indicated that there was no interaction between tolerance of ambiguity and preference for processing information in the mixed mode with respect to differentiation. There was no significant relationship between age, handedness, and intended occupation with differentiation.

The major findings of this study was the empirical validation that differentiation and tolerance of ambiguity were observable and testable manifestation of diverse human patterning within the context of the science of unitary human beings.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-01, Section: B, page: 0074.

Thesis (PH.D.)--NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, 1987.

School code: 0146.