What does a researcher aim to control through the use of control variables?

The aim of using control variables in research is to manage and mitigate the impact of extraneous variables that could influence the results. Extraneous variables are factors other than the independent variable that may affect the dependent variable, leading to confounding results. By controlling these variables, researchers can isolate the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, thereby enhancing the validity and reliability of their findings.

For instance, if a study is examining the effect of a marketing strategy on sales, factors like competitor actions, seasonal trends, or economic conditions could skew the results. By accounting for these extraneous variables as control variables, the researcher can more accurately interpret how the marketing strategy itself impacts sales outcomes, rather than being misled by outside factors.

In contrast, while controlling for the age of participants, the research budget, or the number of survey respondents are important aspects in study design, they do not directly address the need to manage the influence of extraneous variables on the outcome of the research.