third variable problem
What third variable problem means in Psychology A-Level, as defined for OCR.
Definitions of third variable problem
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Reference: OCR
One of the two criticisms that reliably earn evaluation marks, alongside the possibility that the causal arrow runs the other way.
An unmeasured third variable may be driving both measures, and nothing in the picture fixes the direction of any influence.
Topics that use third variable problem
- D.1 – handling data (OCR A-Level)
- Research methods and techniques (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- co-variables
- inter-rater reliability
- bar charts and histograms
- behavioural categories
- calculating tests of difference
- causal inference
- central tendency on a curve
- checking data quality
Using third variable problem in the exam
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