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March 29, 2024, 05:34:35 am

Author Topic: Research methods- extraneous and confounding variables?  (Read 1374 times)  Share 

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#J.Procrastinator

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Research methods- extraneous and confounding variables?
« on: July 20, 2013, 05:11:48 pm »
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Hello!

What's the difference between an extraneous and confounding variable? The book doesn't do a very good job at explaining it because it basically defines both as "any variable other than the IV that has an unwanted effect on the DV". I have trouble understanding this and was wondering if anyone could help to clarify these two concepts?

Examples would be great also!
2015-2017: Bachelor of Science @ UoM

darklight

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Re: Research methods- extraneous and confounding variables?
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2013, 05:52:34 pm »
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An extraneous variable is any variable that may have an unwanted effect on the DV. These can be identified prior to the experiment beginning and thus eliminated. For example, if you were doing a study on the effect of age on intelligence, having 50 females but only 6 males would constitute an extraneous variable, as sex can have an unwanted effect. Therefore, you would use an appropriate sampling technique to ensure the effect of sex is balanced or eliminated.

A confounding variable is a variable that has HAD an unwanted effect. The study has been done and it has effected it - it cannot be removed now. You will not be able to tell if it is the IV (e.g. age) or the confounding variable (eg sex) which had the effect! For example, if your experiment did have 50 females and only 6 males, then by the culmination of the experiment, sex would be considered a confounding variable.

Hope this helps :)
2015: Monash MBBS

#J.Procrastinator

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Re: Research methods- extraneous and confounding variables?
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2013, 06:10:48 pm »
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Thanks for the clear up! Helped a bunch!  :D
2015-2017: Bachelor of Science @ UoM