Request to provide me Conceptual Clarity on Extraneous variable and Confounding Variable
sandeep narula
Neeraj Kaushik
--
The members of this group are expected to follow the following Protocols:
1. Please search previous posts in the group before posting the question.
2. Don't write the query in someone's post. Always use the option of New topic for the new question. You can do this by writing to dataanaly...@googlegroups.com
3. It’s better to give a proper subject to your post/query. It'll help others while searching.
4. Never write Open-ended queries. This group intends to help research scholars, NOT TO WORK FOR THEM.
5. Never write words like URGENT in your posts. People will help when they are free.
6. Never upload any information about National Seminars/Conferences. Send such information
in personal emails and feel free to share any RESEARCH-related information.
7. No Happy New Year, Happy Diwali, Happy Holi, Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, etc. allowed in this group.
8. Asking or sharing Research Papers is NOT ALLOWED.
9. You can share your questionnaire only once.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DataAnalysis" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dataanalysistrai...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/dataanalysistraining/1947080738.826171.1774185233560%40mail.yahoo.com.
Sandeep Narula
k s
 | |
1. Business Example
🔹 Study:
“Advertising increases sales”
Extraneous Variables:
- Season (festive time vs normal days)
- Competitor pricing
- Store location
These may affect sales, but if controlled, they won’t distort results.
Confounding Variable:
- Discount offers
If ads are run along with heavy discounts, then:
- Sales may increase due to discounts, not ads
👉 This confuses the result, so discount is a confounding variable
2. Psychology Example
🔹 Study:
“Listening to music improves concentration”
Extraneous Variables:
- Noise level in room
- Time of day
- Mood of person
Confounding Variable:
- Type of task
If:
- Easy tasks are done with music
- Difficult tasks without music
Then performance improves not because of music, but because tasks were easier
👉 Task difficulty becomes a confounding variable
3. Medical Example
🔹 Study:
“Exercise reduces weight”
Extraneous Variables:
- Age
- Gender
- Lifestyle
Confounding Variable:
- Diet
If people who exercise also eat healthy food:
- Weight loss may be due to diet, not exercise
👉 Diet is a confounding variable
4. Education Example
🔹 Study:
“Online learning improves student performance”
Extraneous Variables:
- Internet speed
- Teacher quality
- Study environment
Confounding Variable:
- Student motivation
If highly motivated students prefer online learning:
- Their performance improves due to motivation, not online mode
👉 Motivation becomes a confounding variable
🔥 Final Understanding Trick
Think like this:
- Extraneous variable = “It could affect results”
- Confounding variable = “It actually messed up the conclusion”
Dear SirBased on my understanding, it is helpful to distinguish between the two terms:It is extraneous variables and confounding relationships.An extraneous variable is a third variable that affects the relationship between two primary variables. To address this, we typically measure the third variable as a control variable and attempt to remove its influence using statistical techniques such as partial correlation or hierarchical regression.If the effect cannot be successfully removed, the resulting relationship is considered a confounding relation due to the remaining influence of the extraneous variable.Excerpt from the book of Research Methodology by CR Kothari
<image.png>Best wishesNeeraj
Sunil Chawla
"According to Laerd Dissertation, a variable becomes confounding when it changes systematically alongside the variables being studied, offering an alternative explanation for the results and directly threatening the internal validity of the experiment. In other words, a confounding variable doesn’t just add random noise — it creates a false or distorted picture of the relationship between the IV and DV."
"The distinction is important. As Scribbr clarifies, a confounding variable is a specific type of extraneous variable that is also related to the independent variable itself. A simple extraneous variable might affect the dependent variable; a confounding variable does that and correlates with the independent variable — making it very hard to separate cause from effect."
If Extraneous variable (EV) changes along with your IV, it becomes a confounder as EV provides an alternative explanation for results.
It also leads to over estimation / underestimation depending on the way the EV relates to the IV.
Regards
Sunil
"