Extraneous variables: which statement is true?

Extraneous variables: which statement is true?

• A. Variables intentionally manipulated.
• B. Variables that are identical across conditions.
• C. Variables other than the IV that could affect the DV, and are therefore controlled.
• D. The outcome measure.

Answer: (C)

Extraneous variables are factors other than the manipulated variable that could influence the measured outcome. They threaten internal validity because they might cause changes in the dependent variable, making it unclear whether any observed effect comes from the manipulation or from these other factors. Researchers control extraneous variables by keeping them constant across conditions, randomizing participants, or using counterbalancing to ensure they don’t systematically bias results. The statement that best captures this is that extraneous variables are other than the IV that could affect the DV and are therefore controlled. The independent variable is what you manipulate, the dependent variable is what you measure, and keeping variables identical across conditions is a method of control, not the definition itself.

Extraneous variables are factors other than the manipulated variable that could influence the measured outcome. They threaten internal validity because they might cause changes in the dependent variable, making it unclear whether any observed effect comes from the manipulation or from these other factors. Researchers control extraneous variables by keeping them constant across conditions, randomizing participants, or using counterbalancing to ensure they don’t systematically bias results. The statement that best captures this is that extraneous variables are other than the IV that could affect the DV and are therefore controlled. The independent variable is what you manipulate, the dependent variable is what you measure, and keeping variables identical across conditions is a method of control, not the definition itself.