Final answer:
In the Skeels and Dye experiment, the experimental group received the intervention and the control group did not, providing a basis for comparison. Random assignment and blinding in some cases help maintain the integrity of the experiment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Skeels and Dye experiment, the experimental group received the intervention while the control group did not. The purpose of the control group is to provide a standard for comparison, essentially representing what would happen in the absence of exposure to the independent variable or intervention being tested. The experimental group is exposed to the independent variable to observe any differences that arise in comparison to the control group's performance. This allows researchers to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.
Experimental design is critical in producing reliable data. To ensure that the data collected is valid, the researchers need to eliminate potential confounding factors, or lurking variables, through random assignment of subjects to the different treatment groups. In some studies, participants, and sometimes researchers, are blinded to who receives the actual treatment versus a placebo to maintain the integrity of the experiment.