Final answer:
A control group in a scientific experiment is a baseline group that is treated the same as all other groups except for the exposure to the independent variable, allowing researchers to attribute differences in outcomes between the groups to the treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
A group or subject in an experiment where all variables are kept the same so that other groups can be measured against it is known as a control group. In an ideal experimental design, the experimental group and control group are treated equally except for the exposure to the experimental manipulation, usually the independent variable. This ensures that any differences observed between the groups can be attributed to the experimental treatment and not to other variables, thus allowing researchers to generalize the results more confidently. A classic example would be a sociologist conducting a study on the benefits of tutoring, using one group that receives the tutoring (experimental group) and another that does not (control group), ensuring the conditions are as similar as possible aside from the tutoring variable.