In an experiment to examine the effects of sleep deprivation on completion of a puzzle, one group is allowed to sleep 8 hours while another group is made to stay awake. In this experiment, the control group is __________.
A) the group that gets to sleep
B) the group that remains awake
C) the puzzle
D) the difference in time for each group to complete the puzzle

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The control group is the group that serves as the basis of comparison and remains unchanged throughout the experiment. In this case, the group that gets to sleep serves as the control group because they are the group that is not being manipulated or altered in any way. The group that remains awake is the experimental group, as they are the group that is being manipulated by being deprived of sleep. The puzzle and the difference in time for each group to complete the puzzle are the dependent variables being measured, not the control group.

In an Experiment to Examine the Effects of Sleep Deprivation