Control

Definition

In an experimental or observational study, a control group serves as a baseline comparison for assessing the effects of an intervention or treatment. It does not receive the intervention being tested.

Related terms

Experimental Group: The group that receives the intervention or treatment being tested in an experiment.

Randomization: The process of assigning participants randomly into either the control group or experimental group, reducing potential bias.

Confounding Variable: An extraneous factor that may influence both the independent variable (intervention) and dependent variable (outcome), potentially leading to inaccurate results.