Compare independent variables, dependent variables, and extraneous variables.

Compare independent variables, dependent variables, and extraneous variables. Describe two ways that researchers attempt to control extraneous variables. Support your answer with peer-reviewed articles.

ANSWER

Independent Variables, Dependent Variables, and Extraneous Variables

Independent Variables

An independent variable is the manipulated or controlled factor in an experiment. It is the variable that the researcher changes or varies in order to see how it affects the dependent variable. For example, in an experiment on the effect of fertilizer on plant growth, the amount of fertilizer would be the independent variable.

Dependent Variables

A dependent variable is the measured or observed outcome in an experiment. It is the variable that the researcher measures to see how it is affected by the independent variable. In the experiment on the effect of fertilizer on plant growth, the height of the plants would be the dependent variable.

Extraneous Variables

Extraneous variables are variables that are not controlled by the researcher and that could potentially affect the dependent variable. They can be either confounding variables, which are variables that are related to both the independent variable and the dependent variable, or lurking variables, which are variables that are related to the dependent variable but not to the independent variable.

Controlling Extraneous Variables

Researchers try to control for extraneous variables in order to make sure that the observed effects on the dependent variable are due to the independent variable and not to any other factors. There are two main ways to control for extraneous variables:

Randomization: Randomization is the process of assigning participants to experimental conditions in a random way. This helps to ensure that the groups of participants are similar on average, which means that any differences in the dependent variable are more likely to be due to the independent variable.

Matching: Matching is the process of pairing participants who are similar on relevant characteristics, such as age, gender, or race. This helps to control for the effects of these characteristics on the dependent variable.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for causal inference. Wadsworth Publishing.
This book provides a comprehensive overview of experimental and quasi-experimental designs, including methods for controlling extraneous variables.

Maxwell, S. E., & Delaney, H. D. (2004). Designing experiments and analyzing data: A model comparison perspective (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
This book provides a practical guide to designing and analyzing experiments, including methods for controlling extraneous variables.

Kirk, R. E. (2013). Experimental design: Procedures for the behavioral sciences (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
This book is a classic text on experimental design, including methods for controlling extraneous variables.

Sources
search.proquest.com/openview/0a6b4e4d115093cf263eeec80865fb5e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=976348