If an experiment compared preexisting classes of students, the two classes would be called
A) Ex post facto variables
B) Extraneous variables
C) Confounding variables
D) Dependent variables

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Preexisting classes of students cannot be manipulated by the experimenter, so they are not independent variables. They are also not extraneous variables or confounding variables, as they are the focus of the experiment. Therefore, the appropriate term for them is ex post facto variables. Dependent variables are the outcome measures that are being observed or measured, and would not apply to preexisting groups of students.

If an Experiment Compared Preexisting Classes of Students, the Two