Control Group vs Experimental Group
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Controlled experiments are common in scientific studies, and they involve dividing subjects into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. These groups consist of subjects that are identical in nature, with the only key difference between the two groups being how they are treated by the researcher.
What is a Control Group?
A control group in a scientific experiment does not get exposed to the experimental conditions. There is always a variable that is tested, with changes in the subjects being recorded and analyzed. The subjects in a control group are not exposed to the variable being tested, and they help explain the changes in the experimental group due to the variable. For example, in an experiment testing the effects of a medicine, the control group does not receive the medication, and they serve as a comparison tool when the researcher evaluates the effects of the medication.
What is an Experimental Group?
An experimental group in a controlled experiment receives the variable being studied. In some experiments, it is difficult to isolate the variable being tested, so a control group is created that doesn’t receive exposure to the variable. This allows the researcher to contrast the subjects and determine the effects due to the variable.
Key Takeaways
- Controlled experiments involve dividing subjects into two groups: the control group and the experimental group.
- The control group does not get exposed to the experimental conditions, while the experimental group receives the variable being studied.
- The control group helps to explain the effect of the variable on the subjects in the experimental group, as they do not get exposure to the variable.
