Final answer:
A parallel experiment conducted alongside a laboratory experiment is a controlled experiment, which generally aims to establish causality by manipulating an independent variable and observing its effect on a dependent variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
A parallel experiment that is conducted alongside a laboratory experiment is known as a controlled experiment. In this type of research, scientists manipulate one variable, which is the independent variable, to observe its effects on another variable, which is the dependent variable. The purpose of running a parallel experiment is usually to have a benchmark or to ensure the validity of the experimental findings. Controlled experiments can take many forms, including blind experiments or double-blind experiments, where the subjects and sometimes the researchers do not know who is receiving a specific treatment to prevent bias.
For example, when studying plant growth, researchers may set up two sets of plant samples under the same conditions, with one set receiving a new type of fertilizer (the independent variable) and the other not. They then measure the growth of the plants (the dependent variable) across the samples. By comparing the results of the two sets, scientists can deduce the effects of the fertilizer on plant growth.