ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Psychology => Topic started by: mypurpleundercracka on April 21, 2009, 06:25:28 pm

Title: Research methods
Post by: mypurpleundercracka on April 21, 2009, 06:25:28 pm

Ey guys can any one please explain to me whats the difference between a confounding and extraneous variable? are they the same?

Title: Re: Research methods
Post by: Eriny on April 21, 2009, 07:52:07 pm

An extraneous variable is not necessarily a confounding variable. It is only confounding if the extraneous variable has influenced the results.

So: an extraneous variable is something other than the IV which can influence the DV. Thus, there is a need to control an extraneous variable.
If the extraneous variable has not been controlled, then it becomes a confounding variable, meaning that a factor other than the IV has influenced the DV, rendering the results as not being particularly meaningful.

Title: Re: Research methods
Post by: mypurpleundercracka on April 21, 2009, 09:13:19 pm

cheers, those definitions in the nelson's textbook are too ambiguous  so i wasn't sure