Confounding
Confounding
Confounding (/kənˈfaʊndɪŋ/) is a concept in statistics and research design that refers to a situation where the effect or association between an exposure and an outcome is distorted due to the presence of an extraneous variable.
Etymology
The term 'confounding' is derived from the Latin word 'confundere', which means 'to mix up'. In the context of research, it refers to the mixing up or confusion of effects due to an extraneous variable.
Definition
Confounding occurs when an extraneous variable is associated with both the exposure and the outcome, leading to a spurious association. This can lead to incorrect conclusions about the relationship between the exposure and the outcome.
Examples
An example of confounding is a study investigating the association between smoking and lung cancer. If age is not controlled for, it could be a confounding variable as it is associated with both smoking and lung cancer.
Related Terms
- Bias: A systematic error in the design, conduct or analysis of a study that results in a mistaken estimate of an exposure's effect on the risk of disease.
- Covariate: A variable that is potentially predictive of the outcome under study.
- Effect Modifier: A variable that modifies the effect of a causal relationship.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Confounding
- Wikipedia's article - Confounding
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