In the United States, the murder rate is higher in the South than in the North. You wish to demonstrate that this contrast reflects cultural variables. In the language of research methodology, mean annual temperature is a potential __________ variable in your investigation.

A) confounding
B) external
C) independent
D) dependent

Confounding Variable

An external influence that can affect the results of an experiment by introducing a variable the researchers hadn't considered, which can create a false association between the study's variables.

Mean Annual Temperature

The average temperature of a specific location over the course of a year, calculated by summing the daily temperatures and dividing by the number of days.

Murder Rate

a statistic measuring the number of murders per unit of population within a specified time frame, commonly used as a crime rate indicator.