An extraneous factor in a study which is related with both the probable cause and the outcome. A confounding factor may conceal an actual association or falsely demonstrate an apparent association between itself and the outcome where no real association between them exists. If confounding factors are not measured and considered, bias may result in [..]

A factor extraneous to the main question in a study, but that acts to affect the outcome, and thus distorts the true relationship between study variables For example, a researcher wants to compare the [..]

an extraneous factor in an observational study that distorts or biases an association between an exposure and the measured outcome. Confounders are associated with the exposure and outcome of interest [..]

A factor that is associated with both an intervention (or exposure) and the outcome of interest. For example, if people in the experimental group of a controlled trial are younger than those in the control group, it will be difficult to decide whether a lower risk of death in one group is due to the intervention or the difference in ages. Age is th [..]