What term refers to an outside influence that changes the effects of independent and dependent variables?

The term that refers to an outside influence that changes the effects of independent and dependent variables is the moderating variable. A moderating variable influences the strength or direction of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, showing how the relationship can vary depending on the level of the moderating variable. For instance, consider a study investigating how stress impacts performance; a moderating variable could be social support, where the presence of support alters the stress-performance relationship.

In terms of confusion with other terms: a confounding variable actually distorts the perceived relationship between independent and dependent variables, rather than merely moderating it. Control variables are those held constant to prevent them from influencing the results, and independent variables are manipulated to assess their effect on the dependent variable. Understanding the role of a moderating variable is crucial for accurately interpreting research findings, as it acknowledges that relationships in research are often more complex than they first appear.