Which of the following defines what is meant by a control group in an experiment?
A)A group that is handled identically to the treatment group(s) in all respects except that they are controlled to a greater extent than the other groups, providing baseline data.
B)A group that is used by researchers to monitor how the experiment is going.
C)A group that is handled identically to the treatment group(s) in all respects except that they don't receive the active treatment.
D)None of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A control group is a group in an experiment that is handled identically to the treatment group(s) in all respects except that they do not receive the active treatment. This provides a baseline for comparison to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. Option A includes a confusing element "controlled to a greater extent" which is not needed in the definition. Option B is incorrect because a control group is not used to monitor how the experiment is going, but rather to provide a standard of comparison. Option D is incorrect as one of the options is correct.

Which of the Following Defines What Is Meant by a Control