Final answer:
In an experiment, the control group receives an inactive treatment and is used as a benchmark to compare against the experimental group, which is exposed to the independent variable being tested. This helps ensure any observed effects are due to the manipulation and not other factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
In an experiment, the control group serves as the standard against which results are compared. It is the group that receives an inactive treatment, ensuring that any difference in the outcome between this group and the experimental group can be attributed to the experimental manipulation. In ideal settings, the experimental group is exposed to the independent variable, whereas the control group isn't, thereby allowing researchers to observe the effects on the dependent variable and establish causation.
For instance, in a study investigating the efficacy of a new medication, the control group would receive a placebo, and the experimental group would receive the actual medication. After administering the treatments, researchers would collect data and analyze it to see if there are significant health improvements in the experimental group compared to the control group.
This method also helps to prevent experimenter bias, as the control group acts as a benchmark for normal results without the influence of the variable being tested. Such rigor in experimental design enables researchers to generalize findings and draw meaningful conclusions from their studies.