confounder Definition
a variable that is not the main focus of a study but can affect the results and lead to incorrect conclusions if not properly accounted for.
Using confounder: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "confounder" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In the study, age was a confounder that affected the results.
Example
The researchers had to control for the confounder in order to accurately interpret their findings.
confounder Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for confounder
- covariate
- extraneous variable
- nuisance variable
Phrases with confounder
a variable that affects the relationship between the independent and dependent variables in a study
Example
The confounding factor in the study was the participants' socioeconomic status.
a variable that affects the outcome of a study but is not the variable of interest
Example
The researchers had to account for the confounding variable of smoking in their study on lung cancer.
the distortion of the true relationship between two variables due to the presence of a confounding variable
Example
The confounding effect of age made it difficult to determine the true effect of the treatment.
Summary: confounder in Brief
A 'confounder' [kuhn-found-er] is a variable that is not the main focus of a study but can affect the results and lead to incorrect conclusions if not properly accounted for. It is also known as an extraneous variable or nuisance variable. The term extends into phrases like 'confounding factor,' 'confounding variable,' and 'confounding effect,' which describe the impact of such variables on research outcomes.
