Confounding variables

• What are extraneous variables?

  Variables that interfere with IV and DV
• Why are extraneous variables important in research?

  They can lead to incorrect conclusions
• What happens if extraneous variables are not controlled?

  They can become confounding variables
• What is a confounding variable?

  • A variable that affects both IV and DV
  • Leads to incorrect conclusions if uncontrolled
• Which individual difference is mentioned twice as a confounding variable?

  Intelligence
• How can individual differences affect research outcomes?

  They can introduce variability in results
• If a study does not control for age, what could happen?

  Age could confound the results
• How does the presence of a third variable affect the relationship between IV and DV?

  It can obscure the true relationship