A confounding variable is a variable that
A)influences the dependent variable and varies systematically with the independent variable.
B)influences the independent variable and varies systematically with the dependent variable.
C)influences the dependent variable and varies randomly with the independent variable.
D)influences the independent variable and varies randomly with the dependent variable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A confounding variable is a factor that affects the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable, making it difficult to determine what is causing the observed effect. It varies systematically with the independent variable, which means that changes in the confounding variable are related to changes in the independent variable. This can create a situation where it is difficult to determine whether the observed effect is due to the independent variable or to the influence of the confounding variable.

A Confounding Variable Is a Variable That