What is the main advantage of having a control group in an experiment?

What is the main advantage of having a control group in an experiment?

• A. It allows for randomization of subjects
• B. It shows the impact of confounding variables
• C. It provides a baseline for comparison
• D. It reduces the sample size required

Answer: (C)

The main advantage of having a control group in an experiment is that it provides a baseline for comparison. This means that researchers can assess how the treatment or intervention they are studying affects the experimental group by comparing it to the control group, which does not receive the intervention. Having a control group helps to isolate the effects of the experimental treatment from other variables that might influence the outcomes. This ensures that any differences observed can be more confidently attributed to the treatment itself rather than other factors. By establishing a baseline, researchers can better understand the efficacy of the intervention and determine whether any observed changes are significant or just due to natural variation or other outside influences. Randomization, the influence of confounding variables, and sample size considerations are important aspects of experimental design, but they do not directly address the primary function of a control group, which is fundamental to establishing an effective framework for comparison within the experiment.

The main advantage of having a control group in an experiment is that it provides a baseline for comparison. This means that researchers can assess how the treatment or intervention they are studying affects the experimental group by comparing it to the control group, which does not receive the intervention. Having a control group helps to isolate the effects of the experimental treatment from other variables that might influence the outcomes. This ensures that any differences observed can be more confidently attributed to the treatment itself rather than other factors.

By establishing a baseline, researchers can better understand the efficacy of the intervention and determine whether any observed changes are significant or just due to natural variation or other outside influences.

Randomization, the influence of confounding variables, and sample size considerations are important aspects of experimental design, but they do not directly address the primary function of a control group, which is fundamental to establishing an effective framework for comparison within the experiment.