Confounding variables are those that affect other variables in a way that produces spurious or distorted associations between two variables.

They confound the “true” relationship between two variables.What is a confounding variable? How does it affect the validity of your research study?

Describe a research study that contains an example of a confounding variable.

For example, if you are researching whether lack of exercise leads to weight gain, then lack of exercise is your independent variable and weight gain is your dependent variable.

Confounding variables are any other variable that also has an effect on your dependent variable.

How does confounding variable affect and validity of the study?

To ensure the internal validity of your research, you must consider the impact of confounding variables. If you fail to account for them, you might over- or underestimate the causal relationship between your independent and dependent variables, or even find a causal relationship where none exists