Final answer:
For A/B tests, the content of A and B should be the same except for the element under investigation, and either can serve as the control. Key to extracting maximum meaning is ensuring the control and experimental groups vary only in the independent variable, ensuring any differences in outcomes are attributable to that manipulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When designing A/B tests to extract maximum meaning, it is true that options A and B should have identical content except for the hypothesized elements. Option A should not always be the control; it could be either the control or the test condition, as long as there is a clear delineation between the two. Both the experimental and control groups in an ideal experimental design should be exposed to all phases of the experiment, but only the experimental group should be exposed to the experimental manipulation. Therefore, any measured differences in the dependent variable are likely due to this manipulation. When comparing two sample means in a hypothesis test, it is essential that the two groups, control and experimental, differ only in the independent variable being tested to ensure the integrity of the results.