Control Group

Control Group

A control group in a scientific experiment is a group separated from the rest of the experiment, where the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results. This isolates the independent variable's effects on the experiment and can help rule out alternative explanations of the experimental results.

Overview

In scientific research, a control group is essential for the validity of the experiment. It is a group in which the variables are not changed and are used to compare the changes in the experimental group. The control group is used as a baseline measure. The control group and experimental group are identical except for one variable, which is the variable being tested in the experiment.

Importance of Control Group

The control group is an essential part of an experiment because it allows the researcher to eliminate and isolate these variables. Control groups help to determine if changes in the independent variable are causing the observed changes. This is done by comparing the control group, which had no changes or treatment, to the experimental group, which had the variable being tested changed or manipulated.

Examples of Control Group

In a clinical trial testing a new drug, the control group would receive a placebo while the experimental group would receive the actual drug. The results from the control group would then be compared to the results of the experimental group to see if the drug has any effect on the condition being treated.

See Also

• Experimental Group
• Placebo
• Clinical Trial
• Scientific Method

References

Control Group Resources
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