What is the Difference Between Control Group and Experimental Group?

The main difference between a control group and an experimental group lies in the variable being tested. In an experiment, the experimental group is the group that receives the variable being tested, while the control group is the group that does not receive the variable being tested. Here are the key differences:

Experimental Group: This group is manipulated to test the variable's effect on the outcome of the experiment. The variable is usually stated in the hypothesis and is the main focus of the experiment.
Control Group: This group serves as a comparison group and does not receive the variable being tested. The control group is matched as closely as possible to the experimental group, including factors such as age, gender, social class, and ethnicity. The control group helps researchers determine if any changes observed in the experimental group are indeed due to the variable being tested and helps account for the placebo effect.

In summary, the experimental group is the group that receives the variable being tested, while the control group does not receive the variable. Both groups are essential in an experiment to determine the effect of the variable and ensure the validity of the results.

On this page

What is the Difference Between Control Group and Experimental Group?

Comparative Table: Control Group vs Experimental Group

The main difference between a control group and an experimental group lies in the variable being tested. In an experiment, data from the experimental group is compared with data from the control group. The control group serves as a baseline for comparison, and it is not exposed to the independent variable under investigation. Here is a table comparing the key characteristics of control and experimental groups:

Feature	Control Group	Experimental Group
Purpose	To serve as a baseline and provide a natural outcome for comparison.	To test the effect of a specific variable or treatment.
Variable Exposure	Not exposed to the independent variable under investigation.	Exposed to the independent variable under investigation.
Participants	Should be identical in all aspects to the experimental group, including age, gender, social class, ethnicity, etc.	May include participants from the control group and additional participants who receive the treatment.
Outcome	Provides a normal outcome for comparison in the experiment.	The outcome is changed due to the manipulation of the independent variable.

For example, if researchers want to study the effect of music on sleep, the experimental group would consist of people who listen to music before sleep, while the control group would consist of people who do not listen to music before sleep. By comparing the data from both groups, researchers can determine the effect of music on sleep.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.