Determining the Role of Extraneous Variables in the Interpretation of Data

Determining the Role of Extraneous Variables
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Determining the Role of Extraneous Variables
Extraneous variables are undesirable features or elements that affect the relationship between dependent and independent variables (Module 2, 2022). Although researchers are not interested in these variables, they influence the experimental outcome. Extraneous variables cause errors in an experiment. In that light, researchers should always try to regulate these variables when designing an experiment to avoid biased results. In some cases, they should deemphasize the effect of extraneous variables by eliminating specific subjects. This paper aims to discuss the roles of extraneous variables and how they influence the interpretation of data.
Extraneous variables significantly influence the correlation or causation of the elements studied by experimenters. Specifically, correlation entails the connection between things, while causation refers to factors that lead to the occurrence of a particular behavior (Module 2, 2022). In some cases, researchers come up with an experiment to determine how actions are correlated. However, extraneous variables can hinder proper data interpretation, influencing the accuracy of the study outcomes. For example, some participants usually change their behaviors when researchers give them full attention. In such cases, the experience that these respondents undergo during the experiment does not contribute to their behavioral change. If researchers interpret the data collected, they are likely to record that the participants’ experiences during the experiment led to the change of behaviors of the study subjects, which is not the case.
Furthermore, extraneous variables adversely affect the internal validity of experiments. They tamper with the relationship between variables that are being examined in an experiment. Notably, internal validity refers to the extent to which researchers are confident that other factors cannot cause a cause-a...