DEFINE CONFOUNDING VARIABLE

Define confounding variable

In Statistics, a confounding variable also called lurking variable, confounding factor, a confound
or confounder

1. is an extraneous variable in the sense it is the third variable influencing the dependent
and independent variable.

2. It is a model of statistics

3. correlates with both dependent varaible and the independent variable.

4, correlation may be either positive or negative.

Thus a confounding variable is used because of the need to control for these factors to avoid type
1 error. Sometimes by statistical inferences we conclude wrongly that the dependent variables
are in a causal relationship with the independent variable. Such a relation is erroneous or false
positive conclusion and is termed as a spurious relationship.

Thus confounding is a major threat to the validity of inferences made about cause and effect
i.e. as the observed effects a re attributed to the independent variable than the confounder.

Examples when the Confounding Variable was not

Accounted for
Whenever a confounding variable is not accounted for the inferences may be totally wrong. For
example, take the case of a person's age and a country's domestic product. Both are directly
proportional with time. So we should not conclude that a higher GDP is the cause for rise of age
in the person. Because of time, a confounding factor, both rises. But these two variables namely
GDP and person's age are not at all related.

Another example is the statistical relationship between sale of sweaters and getting fever/cold.
When these variables are entered into a statistical analysis, they will definitely show a positive
and potentially significant correlation. However, it would be wrong to infer a causal relationship
that is sale of sweaters causes fever/cold. Here important confounding variable present is the
temperature. During winter, sale of sweaters will be more as well as persons getting fever/cough
more.

More theory about confounding variables

By definition, a confounding variable is associated with both the probable cause and the
outcome.
Opinion about Confounding variables by experts: (Quotes)

Pearl, an explorer in Statistics has shown that confounding variables cannot be defined in terms
of statistical notions along: It depends on causal assumptions. Many working on these
afterwards made a start when considering confounding variable and causation. When causal
assumptions are articulated in the form of causal graph, a simple criterion is available to identify
sets of confounding variables.

CONCLUSION:

A CON FOUNDING VARIABLE OR

Extraneous variable: There are some factors which influence the results and give wrong
predictions and leading to our conclusion about the relationship. For example, some factors lie
beyond our control and hence give wrong results. Often because of presence of confounding
variables our surveys and estimates are badly affected.. Confounding variables are ones which
may give result to us in a just opposite manner.