Prof.Martin was interested in which of two popular statistics textbooks (Statistics: It Will Change Your Life and Statistics: Bigger, Better, Stronger) was better for students.Prof.Martin compared the two texts by assigning one text to a section of statistics taught by Prof.Miller from 10 to 11 a.m.on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the other text to a section of statistics taught by Prof.Mervin from 7 to 10 p.m.on Wednesday evenings.At the end of the term, all students took the same comprehensive test.Students to whom Statistics: Bigger, Better, Stronger was assigned performed better on the test than did students to whom Statistics: It Will Change Your Life was assigned.Therefore, Prof.Martin concluded that the former textbook was the better one.Which of the following is NOT a potential confounding variable in this study?
A) number of classes per week
B) professors teaching course
C) comprehensive test scores
D) time of day course is taught

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Comprehensive test scores cannot be a confounding variable as they are the outcome variable being measured and compared between the two groups. Confounding variables are factors that may affect the outcome variable and are unevenly distributed between the two groups being compared. In this case, potential confounding variables are the number of classes per week, the professors teaching the course, and the time of day the course is taught.

ProfMartin Was Interested in Which of Two Popular Statistics Textbooks