Question

Studies conducted at elementary schools have shown that children with longer feet tend to score higher on reading tests than children with shorter feet.

a. Are these studies observational or experimental? Explain briefly.

b. Suggest a potential confounding variable that could explain the observed phenomenon that children with longer feet tend to score higher on reading tests than children with shorter feet. Describe what makes this a confounding variable.

Answer 1

(a)

These studies are observational because the researchers simply observe the effect of longer feet on reading tests without trying to change which child is having longer feet or not.

(b)

The confounding variable here is the advantage in readability of children with longer feet to see more clearly the words written on the board because of their more height as compared to children with shorter feet.

The variable: the advantage in readability is a confounding variable because it affects both the independent variable: length of feet (longer or shorter) and the dependent variable: score on reading test.