Thinking outside of the box when the box is missing: Examining the curvilinear relation between role ambiguity and creativity

This study examines the effect of role ambiguity on creative performance and the interactive effect between role ambiguity and tolerance of ambiguity. It further explores whether creative self-efficacy and/or creative role-identity mediates the effects of role ambiguity on creativity. Based on cognitive evaluation theory, a curvilinear relation between role ambiguity and creativity was hypothesized. Tolerance of ambiguity was hypothesized to act as a moderator on the linkage between role ambiguity and creativity, with a moderate amount of role ambiguity being the most conducive to work creativity. These two hypotheses were both supported in an initial experiment. A second experiment with a different experimental task was conducted to further corroborate the results. The main effect of role ambiguity and interactive effects of role ambiguity with tolerance of ambiguity were both supported. In addition, the second experiment examined the intervening mechanisms by testing two hypothetical mediators: creative self-efficacy and creative role identity. Results suggest that creative self-efficacy mediated the relation between role ambiguity and creativity. Creative role identity failed to serve as a mediator. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed. Future research directions are suggested.