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A control group - is a 'standard' by which you can compare any changes in the subject group.

For example, in the days when drug trials were conducted on animals, scientists would have a group of mice that were healthy, and drug-free alongside a group that had been given the test drug. They would then monitor the mice to see what changes (if any) happen over time.

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13y ago

A control group is present in an experiment because there is always one group or variable that doesn't change throughout. That is where is gets the term "control" from.

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Q: What is purpose of a control group?
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What is a control group?

an control group is when an experiment is conducted for the purpose of determining the effect of a single variable of interest on a particular system.


What is the purpose of having a control group?

In conducting a scientific experiment, a scientist should have a control group and an experiment/treatment group. The scientist proposes a null hypothesis (null because it is intended to be disproven). The scientist then treats the two groups identically except the treatment group receives the treatment and the control group does not. Because the two groups were treated identically except for the treatment, any subsequent differences in the groups is (tentatively) attributed to the treatment. Thus,the control group is the group NOT receiving the treatment. For example, the scientist could propose that "fish will not die if they stop receiving food" (as a null hypothesis). The scientist then places two fish tanks full of similar fish into the same room, so that temperature, air pressure and light are equal. Then the scientist feeds one tank the recommended amount of fish food, while not feeding the other tank at all. After one week of this treatment, the scientist observes the tank receiving food (the control group) contains live fish while the group receiving the treatment (starvation) only contains dead fish. The scientist would then disprove the null hypothesis and conclude (tentatively) that fish do need food to continue living.


Are control groups and experimental groups the same thing?

In a controlled experiment, there are two groups. The control group is a group that nothing happens to. The experimental group is the group that you subject to the variable with which you are experimenting. At the end of the experiment, you test the differences between the control group, for whom nothing happened, and the experimental group, which received the variable. The difference (or similarities) between the two groups is how your results are measured.A control group is the group used for comparison in an experiment. One group receives the treatment that is being tested by the experiment; another group (the control group) has the exact same controlled environment, but does not receive this treatment. The effectiveness of the treatment can then be established by comparison with the control group.


Why do you have to keep all conditions the same in the control group?

The sole purpose for a control group is so the researcher can compare his/her results with the experimental group in order to prove his/her hypothesis is correct by showing conditions before they have changed any variable. in order to achieve this and make it fair all conditions must be kept the same in order to make a fair comparison.


What is the difference between a treatment group and a control group?

There is one major difference of a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group is treated with an experimental medication (or known medication), and the control group is treated with a placebo in place of the medication to measure effects of the medication.

Related questions

What is the purpose of a control group?

The defintion of a control group in an experiment is a standard for comparison. So then the purpose of the whole control group during an expirenment is to have something to compare your data to.


What is the purpose of the control group in a controlles experiment?

Experiments typically use control groups. One group of people are manipulated and measured, while the control group just stays as they are. The control group is measured against the manipulated group to see what changes.


What is the purpose of the control group?

The purpose of a control group is to show what would happen under normal conditions. It serves as a comparison to the results you receive from the manipulation of the independent variable on the dependent variable. If a control group is present in an experiment, one can be more certain that the independent variable is really responsible for the observations.


In an experiment what is the purpose of ta control?

The control group stays the same throughout the entire experiment.


What was the purpose of the pure lines Mendel used in his work?

He needed a control group.


What is the purpose of the Terrier group?

Terrier dogs were bred to control mice, rabbits, foxes and badgers.


What is a control group?

an control group is when an experiment is conducted for the purpose of determining the effect of a single variable of interest on a particular system.


The group in an experiment that is not exposed to the tested variable is called the group?

An unexposed subject is the "control" for the experiment. The purpose is to establish an idea of what would normally occur outside the testing procedure. Similarly, in human tests, an inactive "placebo" is given to some subjects to verify that the changes occur independently of the psychosomatic (belief-driven) effects. In a "double blind' experiment, the person distributing the medication also does not know whether any particular individual is receiving the actual drug or a placebo. This is hidden in coded form until the results are recorded.


What is the purpose of management control system?

the purpose of a control system is to manage


Purpose of group number?

The purpose of a control group is to show what would happen under normal conditions. It serves as a comparison to the results you receive from the manipulation of the independent variable on the dependent variable. If a control group is present in an experiment, one can be more certain that the independent variable is really responsible for the observations.


Why should expieriments have a control group?

The control group in an experiment is the group that nothing is done to. The reason why there is a control group in experiments is to compare it with the group that has been tested.


Why do you use a control group?

You use a control group to compare the results of the experimental group to. The control group has the "normal" results. After the experiment, you can tell if and what has changed from the control groups results