noun
interrelationship; confounding (statistics)
Technical term used mainly in statistics and research methodology to describe a situation where the effect of one variable is mixed with another, making it difficult to determine causal relationships. Also used more generally for complex interrelationships.
この研究では、年齢と喫煙の交絡を調整する必要がある。
In this study, it is necessary to adjust for the confounding of age and smoking.
交絡因子を考慮しないと、誤った結論を導く可能性がある。
If confounding factors are not considered, it may lead to incorrect conclusions.
Compound of 交 (interchange, mix) and 絡 (entangle, intertwine). The term was likely coined in Japanese as a translation of the English statistical term 'confounding'.