An experimenter conducts a study to examine whether caffeine improves performance on an IQ test. Which of the following represents what happens in the control condition?
A) Participants drink a caffeinated beverage while testing.
B) Participants do not drink a caffeinated beverage while testing.
C) Participants are incentivized to do their best on the IQ test.
D) Participants are incentivized to do their worst on the IQ test.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the control condition of an experiment, participants are not exposed to the experimental treatment, which in this case is caffeine. Therefore, the correct answer is that participants do not drink a caffeinated beverage while testing, as this represents the standard or baseline condition against which the effects of caffeine can be compared.

An Experimenter Conducts a Study to Examine Whether Caffeine Improves