{"id":290,"date":"2022-10-11T13:12:03","date_gmt":"2022-10-11T13:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepollsters.com\/?p=290"},"modified":"2023-09-29T17:54:02","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T17:54:02","slug":"what-is-a-confounding-variable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepollsters.com\/what-is-a-confounding-variable\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is A Confounding Variable?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A confounding variable is a variable that is not considered in an experiment, but it does affect the relationship between the two variables being studied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is named a confounding variable because it has the ability to confound the results of the study, and lead to unreliable results. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"What<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

This article will look at confounding variables in more detail!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are The Two Main Variables?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a study, there are two main variables that are considered. These are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent Variable <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The independent variable is a variable that is changed so that the experimenter can observe how this variable affects the dependent variable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dependent Variable <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The dependent variable is the variable that is measured as a response to the controlled independent variable<\/a>. This variable is dependent on the independent variable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a study, you will look at how the changes that are applied to an independent variable will affect the dependent variable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confounding Variable <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

However, there is sometimes a third variable. This variable is not accounted for, and it affects the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confounding variables alter the results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They do this by making it seem like the independent variable has caused a change in the dependent variable, but really the confounding variable was the thing that caused the change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is usually something that you are not looking to study and it affects the results of the experiment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example Of A Confounding Variable <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at an example of a confounding variable to ensure that you understand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a study is looking at the correlation between ice cream sales and people fainting, and finds that if more ice-creams are sold, more people will faint, it looks as if the two variables are linked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What has been missed however, is that when more ice-creams are sold, and when more people faint, there is another variable that affects this: temperature. This is a confounding variable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can You Identify A Confounding Variable?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If a variable meets the following criteria, then it can be defined as a confounding variable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Correlate With Independent Variable <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In order for a variable to be a confounding variable, it must be correlative to the independent variable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, in our previous example, the temperature is correlated with the sale of ice-cream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Causal Relationship With Dependent Variable<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It will also need to have a relationship with the dependent variable, but this relationship will be causal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, the temperature (confounding variable) causes a higher number of people to faint (dependent variable).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Are Confounding Variables Problematic In A Study?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n