Control group

The group of participants who resemble the experimental group (e.g., they are in the same age range) but who do not receive the experimental intervention or do not have the condition being studied. The control group might get a different dose, standard of care, something that looks like the study intervention but is inactive (placebo) or no treatment at all. Researchers compare results from the control group with results from the experimental group to find and learn from any differences. Clinical Research Glossary – Plain Language Definitions (mrctcenter.org)