Determinants of Equivocation

Abstract

This study suggests that other than avoidance-avoidance binds, researchers have largely ignored possible antecedents of interpersonal equivocation. It then attempts to demonstrate experimentally the existence of other such antecedents. Participants responded to scenarios that manipulated the level of situational formality (informal or formal) and interaction phase (initial or middle). These responses were scaled for degree of equivocation. In addition, participants completed a modified version of the MAT-50, a measure of ambiguity tolerance (AT). Moderated regression analyses indicated that participants equivocated more in informal situations and that AT interacted with formality level and interaction phase to influence equivocation. Specifically, those lower in AT equivocated more in informal situations and during the initial phase of conversations.