Final answer:
Researchers control confounding variables by asking if there are extraneous variables that could influence the results, aiming to isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
When researchers are deciding how to control for confounding variables, they might ask the question: Are there extraneous variables that could affect the results? This is crucial for ensuring that the effects observed in an experiment are due to the manipulation of the independent variable, and not due to some other variable.
The independent variable is the one that is manipulated or controlled by the experimenter to investigate its effects on the dependent variable, which is the outcome variable that researchers measure. Control variables are those that might also affect the dependent variable, but are kept constant to isolate the effect of the independent variable.
By asking if there are any extraneous variables, researchers are attempting to identify and control for potential confounding variables that could invalidate the results of their study, thereby improving the validity of their conclusions about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.