Confounds in psychology refer to extraneous variables that can influence the relationship between an experiments independent and dependent variables, leading to inaccurate conclusions about the relationship being studied. Confounding variables affect both the independent and dependent variables and can influence the dependent variable directly, either correlating with or causally affecting the independent variable. Confounding variables are different from extraneous variables, which are any variables that researchers are not investigating that can influence the dependent variable.

Confounding variables can cause confounding bias, which is a bias that results from having confounding variables in a study design. If the observed association overestimates the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable, this is known as a positive confounding bias. If the observed association underestimates the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable, this is known as a negative confounding bias.

Common examples of confounding variables in psychology include participant variability, social desirability effect, demand characteristics, and evaluation apprehension. Confounding variables can be controlled by carefully designing experiments so that all conditions are the same except for the independent variable. Researchers can also use methods such as restriction and statistical control to account for confounding variables.

In summary, confounds in psychology are extraneous variables that can influence the relationship between an experiments independent and dependent variables, leading to inaccurate conclusions about the relationship being studied. Confounding variables affect both the independent and dependent variables and can cause confounding bias. Researchers can control confounding variables by carefully designing experiments and using methods such as restriction and statistical control.