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decrease the magnitude or strength of the relationship between the
dependent and independent variables. Extraneous variables are
those variables that are not related to the purpose of the study but
◆ External but
influence dependent that may affect the dependent variable. Extraneous variables are
variable factors that affect the dependent variable but that the researcher
did not originally consider in the initial stage of research. These
unwanted variables can unintentionally change a study’s results or
how a researcher interprets those results.

Example:

Figure 3.1.4 Extraneous Variable

In the above example Online course is the independent variable
and students score is the dependent variable. Here prior knowledge
of Spanish language is the extraneous variable that will influence
the outcome which was not noticed at the beginning of the study.
Extraneous variables affect the strength of the relationship between
variables.

IV. Confounding / Lurking Variable
Confounding variables are those variables which the researcher
◆ Affects both did not consider at the time of study. A confounding variable
variables and influences both the dependent and independent variable causing an
invalidate results invalid result. Confounding variables can invalidate the research
study by making them biased or suggesting a relationship between
variables exists when it does not. For example:

90 SGOU - SLM -MCom Research Methodology