When a confound is discovered in an experiment,
A) internal validity can be assumed.
B) external validity can be assumed.
C) internal validity is challenged.
D) external validity is challenged.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a confound is discovered in an experiment, it means that an extraneous variable has influenced the outcome of the study, making it difficult to determine the true cause and effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Therefore, internal validity is challenged as the extent to which the study measures what it intended to measure is in question. External validity may or may not be affected by the confound, depending on the nature of the extraneous variable and its relationship to the real-world population of interest.

When a Confound Is Discovered in an Experiment