Translating and Validating the Japanese Version of the Tolerance for Ambiguity Scale

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Tolerance for Ambiguity (TFA) is crucial in medicine.
• A validated scale for measuring TFA in Japanese undergraduate medical education was previously unavailable.
• The seven-item TFA scale is a widely used measure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Japanese version of the TFA scale (J-TFA scale).

Main Methods:

• Translation of the original English TFA scale into Japanese following international guidelines.
• Validation survey distributed to 399 medical students across three Japanese medical schools.
• Split-half validation using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).

Main Results:

• EFA indicated a two-factor structure for the J-TFA scale.
• CFA confirmed the two-factor structure with acceptable model fitness indices.
• Cronbach's alpha was 0.72, demonstrating satisfactory internal reliability.

Conclusions:

• The J-TFA scale was successfully developed and its psychometric properties were confirmed.
• The J-TFA scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing TFA in Japanese medical students.
• This validated scale can facilitate future educational interventions and research on TFA in Japan.