What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?

The purpose of a control group in an experiment is to not receive the independent variable or treatment. This is vital because a control group serves as a baseline to which the effects of the independent variable can be compared. By having a control group that is identical to the experimental group in every way except for the treatment administered, researchers can isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. This helps ensure that any changes observed in the experimental group can be attributed specifically to the treatment rather than other factors.

Establishing a control group is fundamental in scientific experiments to validate the results and make conclusions more reliable, as it minimizes the impact of extraneous variables that might affect the outcome.