Final answer:
The participants who read sad statements were part of the experimental group in a psychological study examining mood's effect on humor appreciation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the study mentioned, the participants who read the sad statements constituted the experimental group that was subjected to a mood induction procedure. This group's reaction to jokes was likely compared to the second group, which read neutral statements, serving as a control group. This design aims to understand the influence of mood on cognitive processes such as humor appreciation. The variability of mood's influence on perception and judgment is important in psychological research. The concept of mood involves a complex interplay of emotional and cognitive states that can have a profound effect on how individuals interpret and respond to various stimuli, including humor.