A _________ establishes a base line for an experiment.

A _________ establishes a base line for an experiment.

• A. Negative control
• B. Positive control
• C. Baseline control
• D. Control group

Answer: (D)

A control group provides the reference point that establishes the baseline for comparison in an experiment. By keeping everything the same as the experimental setup except for the treatment, the control group shows what happens under normal conditions. When you compare the treatment group to this baseline, you can tell whether observed changes are due to the treatment rather than other factors such as natural variation or handling effects. A negative control is used to ensure no effect appears when the treatment is absent or inert, and a positive control confirms the system will respond to a known effective treatment. The label baseline control isn’t a standard term, but the main idea—having a reference group to define the baseline—is fulfilled by the control group.

A control group provides the reference point that establishes the baseline for comparison in an experiment. By keeping everything the same as the experimental setup except for the treatment, the control group shows what happens under normal conditions. When you compare the treatment group to this baseline, you can tell whether observed changes are due to the treatment rather than other factors such as natural variation or handling effects. A negative control is used to ensure no effect appears when the treatment is absent or inert, and a positive control confirms the system will respond to a known effective treatment. The label baseline control isn’t a standard term, but the main idea—having a reference group to define the baseline—is fulfilled by the control group.