In an experiment investigating the efficacy of a new virtual-reality (VR) surgical training module compared to traditional video-based training, 40 medical students were split into two groups. Group A completed the VR module, while Group B watched standard instructional videos. Both groups then performed a simulated laparoscopic suturing task, and their error scores were recorded.
An independent groups design was used, which means different participants took part in each condition. This might have introduced confounding variables due to differences in participants' baseline manual dexterity and spatial awareness.
Explain one way in which this study could be redesigned to control for the confounding effects of participant variables.
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