Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

control group

noun

/kənˈtroʊl ɡrʌp/

Definition

A control group is a group in an experiment or study that does not receive treatment or the independent variable being tested. It serves as a baseline to compare the effects of the treatment in the experimental group.

Examples

The researchers divided the participants into two groups: one was given the new drug, while the other served as the control group.
To validate the findings, the study included a control group that did not receive any intervention.

Meaning

In research, a control group enables scientists to determine if the changes observed in the experimental group are due to the treatment being studied rather than other factors.