A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What undermines causation in field experiments?

1. Standardization

2. Confounding variables

3. Order effects

4. Extraneous variables

The correct answer is: Confounding variables

Confounding variables play a crucial role in undermining causation in field experiments because they introduce alternative explanations for the observed effects. When a confounding variable is present, it can influence both the independent variable and the dependent variable, making it difficult to determine whether the independent variable is truly causing any change in the dependent variable. For instance, if a researcher is studying the impact of a training program on employee productivity but fails to account for a concurrent change in workplace environment, the results may reflect the influence of this confounding variable instead of the training program itself. The other options, while they can also impact the validity of research, do not specifically address the fundamental issue of establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship as confounding variables do. Standardization refers to keeping conditions consistent to reduce variability; order effects pertain to potential biases from the sequence of tasks; and extraneous variables can introduce noise but are not necessarily linked to the independent variable in the same way confounding variables are. Hence, the presence of confounding variables is critical in assessing causation in field experiments.