1D: Preventing Error and Bias

Question 1

What is an Extraneous Variable

Answer 1

Any variable (not the IV) that may cause an unwanted effect on the DV

If accounted for, these become Controlled Variables

Question 2

What is a Confounding Variable?

Answer 2

A variable that has directly and systematically affected the DV apart from the IV

It may be an extraneous variable that is not controlled or a variable that cannot be controlled

Question 3

Name a few examples of Extraneous and Confounding Variables

Answer 3

• Age
• Intelligence
• Experimenter Bias
• Temperature
• Lighting
• Participants lying

Question 4

What’s the difference between Extraneous and Confounding Variables?

Answer 4

Confounding variables have systematically affected the experiement whereas extraneous variables is any variable that is not the independent variable but may cause an unwanted effect on the dependent variable