If Dr. Ryan, a social psychologist, was investigating the relationship between temperature and participants' moods, an example of an extraneous variable would be:
A) how hot it is in the study room.
B) how cold it is in the study room.
C) self-reports of how happy or sad one feels.
D) the time of day the study takes place.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Extraneous variables are those that are not the focus of the study but could affect its outcome. In this case, the time of day (D) could influence participants' moods independently of the temperature, making it an extraneous variable. Choices A and B are not extraneous because they directly relate to the independent variable (temperature), and C is related to the dependent variable (mood).

If Dr Ryan, a Social Psychologist, Was Investigating the Relationship Between