Experimental group
● Participants in an experiment who receives the treatment
● Example
○ Testing effects of caffeine on exam scores
■ Group A
■ Consumes caffeine (treatment) before taking the exam
● If two groups are equal before experimental treatment is implemented, then any
changes that occur post-experiment can be attributed to the treatment
(independent variable)
Control group
● Serves as the basics of comparison in a between-subject design
● Similar to the experimental group except doesn't receive treatment
● Example
○ In the caffeine and exam score study, the control condition
■ Wouldn't receive any caffeine (absence of treatment)
■ Or might receive significantly less caffeine than the experimental
group
Control condition
● Condition in a within-subject design that doesn’t receive experimental
manipulation
○ Similar in some ways to the control group in a between-subject experiment
● Participants in an experiment who receives the treatment
● Example
○ Testing effects of caffeine on exam scores
■ Group A
■ Consumes caffeine (treatment) before taking the exam
● If two groups are equal before experimental treatment is implemented, then any
changes that occur post-experiment can be attributed to the treatment
(independent variable)
Control group
● Serves as the basics of comparison in a between-subject design
● Similar to the experimental group except doesn't receive treatment
● Example
○ In the caffeine and exam score study, the control condition
■ Wouldn't receive any caffeine (absence of treatment)
■ Or might receive significantly less caffeine than the experimental
group
Control condition
● Condition in a within-subject design that doesn’t receive experimental
manipulation
○ Similar in some ways to the control group in a between-subject experiment
