In a recent study, researchers found that students who regularly consumed energy drinks scored lower on standardized tests compared to those who did not consume energy drinks. The researchers concluded that energy drinks negatively impact students' academic performance. However, the study did not account for other factors such as sleep deprivation, the quality of study habits, or pre-existing academic performance levels.
Based on this information, which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the researchers' conclusion?