Learn to Better Tolerate Ambiguity

Some of the most valuable advice I received as a doctoral student came from James G. Kelly, Ph.D., a faculty member who served on both my master’s thesis and dissertation committees.

My dissertation involved intensive qualitative analyses, and in our many conversations about my research, Dr. Kelly consistently emphasized that one of the most important qualities I could develop as a doctoral student—and as a researcher—was the ability to tolerate ambiguity.

He stressed that academic research and writing are filled with moments when:

  • The appropriate course of action is unclear

  • There are more questions than answers

  • The “right” interpretation is not immediately apparent

Being able to tolerate this uncertainty, he believed, was essential to success.

Why Tolerating Ambiguity Matters in Research and Writing

Dr. Kelly encouraged me not to rush to premature conclusions about my interview data with homeless adults. Instead, he urged me to:

  • Sit with uncertainty

  • Ask deeper questions

  • Be thoughtful about what stories the data were telling

This same tolerance for ambiguity is equally important during the writing process. When you can tolerate not knowing:

  • You are more willing to write beginner drafts

  • You become more patient with yourself

  • You are less judgmental when ideas are unclear or writing feels difficult

Keeping Expectations in Check

One key strategy for developing tolerance for ambiguity is to keep your expectations and standards in check, especially in the early stages of writing.

Personally, I regularly remind myself that:

  • My writing on any given day may be less clear or polished than I would like

  • My writing process varies from day to day and week to week

  • Confusion and struggle are part of the process

Sometimes writing comes easily. Other times, organizing and articulating ideas feels nearly impossible.

Trust the Process Over Time

Creating a well-crafted piece of writing rarely happens in one—or even several—work sessions. You may finish many sessions feeling:

  • Confused

  • Uncertain

  • Unsure whether you are making progress

Yet if you can tolerate ambiguity while consistently:

  • Reading

  • Analyzing

  • Writing

  • Thinking

  • Revising

  • Clarifying

you will eventually produce work you can feel good about.

Develop an Incremental Mindset Toward Intelligence

A second strategy for increasing tolerance of ambiguity is to adopt an incremental theory of intelligence, as described by Carol Dweck (2000).

Incremental vs. Entity Theories of Intelligence

  • Incremental theorists believe intelligence is malleable and can grow through effort, guidance, and persistence.

  • Entity theorists believe intelligence is fixed and unchangeable.

I believe that incremental theorists are generally more tolerant of the ambiguity inherent in dissertation research and writing.

Why Mindset Matters for Dissertation Work

Incremental theorists are more likely to:

  • View intellectual challenges as opportunities for growth

  • Persist through confusion and difficulty

  • Ask for guidance

  • Sit with uncertainty while working toward clarity

In contrast, if you believe intelligence is fixed, ambiguity may feel threatening. You may fear that struggle means you are not smart enough.

Practice Tolerating Not Knowing

If you lean toward an entity mindset, your dissertation offers a powerful opportunity to practice tolerating ambiguity.

Try to:

  • Write very rough drafts

  • Experiment with different analytic approaches

  • Seek guidance when stuck

  • Explore ideas without rushing to conclusions

  • Create visual maps of your research questions, framework, or arguments

  • Revisit and revise your thinking repeatedly

Be curious as you search for your voice as a researcher.

Struggle Is Part of Becoming More Competent

Keep exerting effort and try to view your dissertation as an intellectual adventure—one that can increase your competence and intelligence if you allow yourself to struggle, ask for input, and pursue solutions without harsh self-evaluation.

Struggle does not mean a lack of intelligence.

Struggle is inherent to the dissertation process and is often the path to strong scholarship.

Practice tolerating ambiguity. You will likely become more productive, more confident, and perhaps more of an incremental theorist as you discover that persistence is a powerful way to work through intellectual challenges and grow as a researcher.

This article was written by Alison Miller, PhD, founder of The Dissertation Coach, a business dedicated to helping doctoral and master’s students successfully earn their graduate degrees.

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