What is the purpose of this study?
The primary purpose of this study is to validate a new psychological scale specifically designed to measure tolerance of uncertainty among therapists. This research is part of a broader effort to understand how professionals in the field of psychology, counselling and therapy manage and respond to uncertain situations in their practice.
The first objective is to develop a reliable and valid instrument that can accurately assess a therapist’s tolerance of uncertainty. The second objective involves pilot testing the scale with a group of therapists to evaluate its effectiveness and refine it based on the findings. We are inviting you to participate in the second phase of the study, and assist us in validating the measure.
Who is invited to participate?
Psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, provisional psychologists and students, are invited to take part in this study.
To be eligible to participate, you additionally need to hold registration with the respective professional licensing bodies.
- For counsellors and psychotherapists, this includes registration with ARCAP (Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists), the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) or the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
- For psychologists, this includes provisional or full registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- For students, this involves the appropriate enrolment into an accredited course in one of these therapeutic areas. The aim is to include a diverse range of individuals from various backgrounds, levels of experience, and areas of specialization within psychology. Your insights will be invaluable in ensuring the scale is broadly applicable and reflective of the profession.
What is involved in participation?
If you participate, you will be asked to:
- Complete the newly developed tolerance of uncertainty scale. This involves responding to a series of statements related to professional scenarios and personal reactions to uncertainty. The scale will have approximately 25-45 questions total.
- Fill out a few additional questionnaires for validation purposes. These questionnaires will relate to trait uncertainty tolerance, trait anxiety, burnout, and psychological flexibility. This section has 30 questions in total.
- Provide some basic demographic information for statistical purposes.
- Optionally provide feedback on the scale’s clarity, relevance, and any other aspects you deem noteworthy.
If you have any queries, concerns or issues with this study, please feel free to contact Dr Elly Quinlan on elly.quinlan@utas.edu.au.
This study has been approved by the University of Tasmania Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).Â
