Specify the direction of the relationship between variables. For example, let’s say that income is correlated (or related) to happiness. While the relationship may seem obvious to you, it may not be to the reader. Just saying that income is correlated with happiness does not specify the nature of the relationship (i.e., the greater the income, the greater the happiness). Also, make sure your confound is correlated with both the DV and the IV. In thinking about this confound problem, we often assume that there is a cause and effect relationship between the IV and DV. This may or may not be true. While it’s important that the confound and the IV are related, this relationship may simply be temporal (i.e., occurring at the same time). Remember: these are supposed to be examples that are plausible and from your own experience.
- Dependent variable: (1 pt)
- Independent variable (and an explanation of its relation to the DV, 2 pts)
- Confounding variable: (3 pts)
(a) Explanation of confounds relation to the DV: (2 pts)
(b) Explanation of confounds relation to the IV: (2 pts)
Self-Grading the Confound Assignment
The Original assignment:
A confound is a variable that is correlated with the IV and the DV.
At this point, just use your judgment to determine what might be correlated.
What is a plausible variable (IV) that could be correlated with the DV?
Use paranormal belief as the dependent variable.
Determine a plausible confound variable and describe how it would be related to the IV and DV.
Sample Solution