Which of the following statements about control groups is TRUE?
A) Control groups help eliminate time-related confounds as alternative explanations for research results.
B) Control groups are not needed when the research uses a pretest-posttest design.
C) Selection as a threat to internal validity is not an issue when the study includes a control group.
D) The use of a pretest requires that an additional control group be added.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Control groups help eliminate time-related confounds as alternative explanations for research results. By having a control group that does not receive the intervention or manipulation, researchers are able to compare the outcomes of the experimental group to what would have happened anyway in the absence of the intervention. This helps eliminate the possibility that changes observed in the experimental group were just due to time passing or other factors unrelated to the intervention.

Which of the Following Statements About Control Groups Is TRUE