What type of error is caused by uncontrollable extraneous variables?

Random errors occur from uncontrollable extraneous variables that can influence the outcome of an experiment. These are unpredictable and arise from a variety of sources, such as fluctuations in environmental conditions (like temperature or humidity), variations in measurement techniques, or even human response variability. The key characteristic of random errors is their inherent unpredictability, which means that while they can impact results, they often average out when repeated measurements are taken. Therefore, the presence of these extraneous variables leads to random deviations from the expected results rather than a consistent bias, which distinguishes random errors from systematic errors that are consistent in their impact. Understanding this distinction is crucial for researchers as it helps in designing experiments and interpreting data accurately.