Research methods

[mypurpleundercracka]

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

[Eriny]

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.

[mypurpleundercracka]

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