Tolerance of ambiguity: A comparison between engineering and non-engineering students
- Conference
- Location
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Minneapolis, MN
- Publication Date
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August 23, 2022
- Start Date
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June 26, 2022
- End Date
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June 29, 2022
- Conference Session
- Page Count
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9
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--41427
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/41427
- Download Count
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422
Paper Authors
M. Javed Khan Tuskegee University
Mohammad Javed Khan is professor and head of the Aerospace Science Engineering department at Tuskegee University. He has a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University, MS in Aeronautical Engineering from the US Air Force Institute of Technology and a BE in Aerospace Engineering from the PAF College of Aeronautical Engineering. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, UK and an Associate Fellow of the AIAA.
Chadia A. Aji Tuskegee University
Chadia Aji is professor in the Department of Mathematics at Tuskegee University. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. in Mathematics from Auburn University and a Bachelor in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University. Her research interests lie in the areas of numerical analysis, computational applied mathematics, complex analysis, and on improving students’ learning in STEM disciplines.
Abstract
The typical student mind-set is focused on getting the ‘right’ answer for a problem with certainty that every problem has one and only one correct answer. However, this viewpoint is not consistent with real life problems as the information available for solving a real-life problem can be stochastic and incomplete. As a result, many correct answers could be possible and the acceptable one would depend on several factors. Students must therefore be exposed to such ambiguous problem spaces. This paper presents a comparison of undergraduate students’ tolerance of ambiguity. The modified Rydell-Rosen Ambiguity Tolerance scale was administered to a cross-section of students to measure their responses. Differences between engineering and non-engineering students were observed. The influence of academic classification and gender were also observed.
This work is supported NSF grant # XXXXX.
Khan, M. J., & A. Aji, C. (2022, August), Tolerance of ambiguity: A comparison between engineering and non-engineering students Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41427
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