Extraneous Variables

Extraneous Variable

A variable other than the independent variable that could influence the outcome of a study.

Participant Differences

Individual differences such as age, gender, personality traits, and environmental factors.

Physical Environment

Factors such as temperature and comfort that can affect participant responses.

Motivation and Engagement

Levels of motivation and interest in the study that can influence outcomes.

Expectations and Demand Characteristics

Participants' beliefs about what the researcher wants to find.

Social Environment

Interactions with other participants, experiments, and observers that can affect behavior.

Distractions and Interruptions

Interruptions from outside sources or unexpected disruptions during the study.

Experimenter Bias

Unintentional influence exerted by researchers' expectations, attitudes, or behavior.

Non-verbal Communication

Subtle cues that can influence participant responses.

Standardization of Procedures

Variability in how procedures are implemented across different experiments or research sessions.

Subjectivity in Data Collection

Bias in the interpretation and collation of data results.