What is a confounding variable?

A confounding variable is defined as an extraneous variable that may influence the dependent variable, potentially leading to erroneous conclusions in an experimental study. This variable is not the primary focus of the study, but its presence can obscure the true relationship between the independent and dependent variables. For example, in a study investigating the effect of a new teaching method on student performance, a confounding variable could be the prior knowledge of the students, which might influence the outcome regardless of the teaching method being evaluated. Identifying and controlling for confounding variables is crucial in research to ensure that the results are valid and can be attributed to the independent variable rather than other influences.