Final answer:
The correct answer is D. Matching. Matching is a method used in epidemiologic studies to control for confounding variables by pairing individuals with similar characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is D. Matching.
Matching is a method used in epidemiologic studies to control for confounding variables by pairing individuals with similar characteristics. It is not a method for controlling the effects of confounding, but rather a way to account for confounding variables in the analysis.
For example, if the variable being studied is the effect of smoking on lung cancer, matching can be used to pair individuals who are similar in terms of age, gender, and other relevant factors. By doing so, the effect of these confounding variables can be controlled for in the analysis.