A researcher has two groups of participants, one group receives monetary compensation for completing exercise activities and the other group does not. All individuals in both groups are weighed weekly. What is a potential extraneous variable to control for in this study?
A) The monetary compensation provided
B) What participants eat while taking part in the study
C) The weight (in pounds) of the participants
D) Whether or not the participants are in the exercise or control group

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

What participants eat while taking part in the study is a potential extraneous variable to control for because it could impact weight change. A participant who is in the exercise group and receives compensation may be more likely to eat healthily than a participant who does not receive compensation or exercise. Therefore, controlling for dietary habits is important to ensure that any weight changes observed are due to the exercise and not other variables.

A Researcher Has Two Groups of Participants, One Group Receives