A-Z Popular Blog Experiments Search »
Research
 Advertisements

5 Types of Extraneous Variables

 ,
Extraneous variables are any factors that can influence an experiment that aren't the independent variables that you are testing. Ideally, all extraneous variables are controlled using techniques such as controlled variables, negative control groups and positive control groups. The following are common types of extraneous variable.

Situational

Variables related to the situation such as the amount of light, wind, water and soil composition in an experiment on plants.

Participant

Variables related to participants such as the age and gender of people in a medical study.

Demand Characteristics

What participants know about the research. For example, in a psychology study participants may change responses to fit what they think is expected.

Experimenter

Variables related to the people conducting the experiment. For example, an experiment where seven researchers take proper measurements and an eight researcher takes incorrect measurements because they have a fundamental misunderstanding about the equipment or process used in the measurement.

Confounding Variable

A confounding variable is a variable that influences both the independent and dependent variables in an experiment. This is often a flaw in experimental procedures or equipment. For example, an experiment on a plant fertilizer where too much water is applied to the plants causing the fertilizer to run off and the plants to die.
Overview: Extraneous Variables
Type
Definition
Variables that can influence an experiment that aren't the independent variables that you are testing.
Related Concepts

Experiments

This is the complete list of articles we have written about experiments.
Alternative Hypothesis
Causality
Cohort
Control Group
Controls
Dependent Variable
Empirical Evidence
Empiricism
Experiment Design
Experimental Error
Experiments
Explanatory Power
Falsifiability
Hypothesis
Measurement
Natural Experiment
Negative Control
Negative Correlation
Null Hypothesis
Original Research
Positive Control
Positive Correlation
Precision
Primary Research
Qualitative Info
Random Assignment
Random Error
Scientific Control
Scientific Fact
Soft Science
Statistics
Systematic Error
If you enjoyed this page, please consider bookmarking Simplicable.
 

Experiments

A guide to designing and conducting experiments.

Experiment Variables

The common types of variables in an experiment with an example.

Independent Variables

The definition of independent variables with examples and comparisons.

Dependent Variable

The definition of dependent variable with examples.

Experiment Controls

The common types of experiment control explained.

Scientific Control

The basic types of scientific control.

Control Group

The common types of control group with examples.

Negative Control vs Positive Control

The difference between a negative control and a positive control with an example.

Negative Control

The definition of negative control with examples.

Innovation

A comprehensive list of innovation techniques.

Innovation Process

A complete guide to the innovation process.

Business Model Innovation

The common types of business model innovation.

Knowledge Economy

The definition of knowledge economy with examples.

Adoption Rate

The definition of adoption rate with examples.

Early Adopters

The definition of early adopter with examples.

Change

The common types of change.

Research & Development

A reasonably complete overview of research & development techniques.

Entrepreneurship

The common characteristics of entrepreneurship.
The most popular articles on Simplicable in the past day.

New Articles

Recent posts or updates on Simplicable.
Site Map