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In a hypothetical study evaluating the effect of mood on memory, participants in a positive mood condition might score higher on a memory task than those in a negative mood condition. However, if participants in the positive mood condition also possess substantially higher intelligence quotients (IQs) on average than those in the negative mood group, IQ acts as a confounding variable. This systematic difference provides an alternative explanation for the results, making it unclear whether the positive mood or the higher intelligence caused the superior memory performance.

Example of a Confounding Variable: Mood and Memory

In a study evaluating the effect of mood on memory, if the participants in the positive mood condition also happen to possess substantially higher average IQs than those in the negative mood condition, what role does IQ play in this research design?

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