Final answer:
A Control group is an essential part of an experimental design that does not receive the independent variable, serving as a baseline to compare against the experimental group that does.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of an experiment, a group that does not receive the independent variable and is used as a baseline for comparison is known as the Control group. This group typically receives either no treatment or a placebo treatment, which is an inactive substance designed to mimic the experience of receiving the experimental treatment but without the therapeutic effect. Such a group is crucial for determining the actual effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable, as it helps to isolate the effects of the experimental treatment from other potential influences.
For example, the human response to being part of an experiment can influence the outcomes due to expectancy or placebo effects. To minimize biases, researchers use a control group to compare with the experimental group, which does receive the independent variable. In double-blind studies, neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the control or experimental group, further reducing bias.