When a person known little about the interested goals of a decision and when outcome options are unclear such a situation is called

The correct answer is D) ambiguous. The clues are that the decision maker knows little about the goals involved and the possible outcomes are unclear. That describes ambiguity, where the problem itself is vague, not just the odds.

In decision theory, certainty means the outcome is known. Risk means the outcomes are known and their probabilities can be estimated, as in an actuarial table. Uncertainty is the broad term for lacking knowledge about outcomes, and it is often used loosely for both risk and ambiguity. Ambiguity is the sharper case where even the goals, options or their meaning are vague, so the decision maker cannot frame the problem clearly.

• A) Certain: wrong, because the outcomes are known in a certain situation, which the question rules out.
• B) Uncertain: the general category, but the question points to unclear goals and options, which is the narrower term ambiguity.
• C) Risky: wrong, because in risk the outcomes and their probabilities are known.

Mains angle: ambiguity in policy problems is why stakeholder consultation and clear objectives must come before choosing instruments.

Trap: aspirants pick "uncertain" because it sounds like the general word. Ask whether probabilities are unknown or whether goals and options are unclear.