Confounding Variable

A confounding variable is an outside factor that influences both the cause and the effect in a study, making it difficult to determine the true relationship between them. For example, if a study finds a link between exercise and weight loss, but forgets to consider diet, diet could be the confounding variable. It’s something other than the main factors being studied that affects the results, potentially leading to misleading conclusions. Recognizing confounding variables helps researchers better understand real causes and effects in their studies.