Negative control

Negative control is a type of control used in scientific experiments. It is designed to give a negative result, which is used to validate the procedure and ensure that it is working correctly. The negative control group is treated the same as the experimental group, except that it does not receive the variable being tested. This allows researchers to distinguish between the effects of the variable and other factors.

Purpose

The purpose of a negative control is to help identify and eliminate potential sources of error in an experiment. It provides a baseline that can be used to compare results from the experimental group. If the negative control produces a positive result, it indicates that there may be a problem with the experimental design or procedure.

Examples

In a biological experiment, a negative control might be a petri dish that is not exposed to the bacterium being studied. In a chemical experiment, it might be a test tube that does not contain the reaction being tested. In a drug test, it could be a sample that is known to be free of the drug.

See also

• Positive control
• Control group
• Scientific control
• Experimental design

References

Negative control Resources
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