What is the purpose for using a control group in an experiment?
A)It provides a baseline to evaluate the size of the treatment effect.
B)It minimizes the threat of a confounding variable.
C)It is necessary to ensure the internal validity of the study.
D)It is necessary to ensure the external validity of the study.

Question

What is the purpose for using a control group in an experiment?
A)​It provides a baseline to evaluate the size of the treatment effect.
B)​It minimizes the threat of a confounding variable.
C)It is necessary to ensure the internal validity of the study.
D)​It is necessary to ensure the external validity of the study.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A control group is used to provide a baseline for comparison in order to evaluate the size of the treatment effect. Without a control group, it is difficult to determine if any observed changes are due to the treatment being tested or if they are simply due to chance or other factors. The use of a control group helps to increase the internal validity of a study by minimizing the effects of confounding variables and ensuring that any observed effects are more likely to be due to the treatment being tested. However, it is not necessarily required for external validity.

What Is the Purpose for Using a Control Group in an Experiment