What term describes the group that serves as a baseline for comparison and is not exposed to the factor being tested?

• A. Placebo Group
• B. Control Group
• C. Experimental Group
• D. Reference Group

Answer: (B)

In an experiment, the baseline for comparison is provided by the group that is not exposed to the factor being tested. This group is called the control group. By keeping everything else the same and withholding the experimental factor, you can attribute any difference in outcomes to the factor itself, rather than to other variables. The control helps account for phenomena like natural variation and placebo effects, especially if participants might respond to simply receiving some treatment. Sometimes a placebo group is used as the control to mimic the experience without the active factor, but the general idea remains: the control group serves as the standard for comparison.