Confounding factor

Confounding Factor

A Confounding Factor (pronunciation: /kənˈfaʊndɪŋ ˈfæktər/) is a variable that influences both the dependent variable and independent variable, causing a spurious association. It is a term widely used in Epidemiology and Statistics.

Etymology

The term "Confounding" comes from the Latin word 'confundere', which means 'to mix up'. "Factor" is derived from the Latin 'facere', which means 'to make or do'.

Definition

A Confounding Factor is a variable that can cause or prevent the outcome of interest, is not an intermediate variable, and is associated with the factor under investigation. It can give a false impression of a relationship between the factor under investigation and the outcome.

Examples

Common examples of confounding factors include age, gender, and genetic factors, which may affect the outcomes of both the dependent and independent variables in a study.

Related Terms

• Bias
• Causal Inference
• Control Variable
• Dependent and Independent Variables
• Epidemiology
• Extraneous Variable
• Interaction
• Variable

See Also

• Covariate
• Effect Modifier
• Multivariate Analysis
• Regression Analysis
• Stratification

References

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Confounding factor
• Wikipedia's article - Confounding factor

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