control group: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Not exactly. A placebo group is a specific type of control group used in medical trials where participants receive an inert treatment (a placebo). All placebo groups are control groups, but not all control groups use a placebo (some receive no treatment, standard treatment, or a different intervention).

Yes. Studies often have multiple control groups. For example, one might receive a placebo, another might receive the current standard treatment, and a third might receive no intervention, to compare against the new experimental treatment.

Blinding means the participants (single-blind) or both participants and researchers (double-blind) do not know who is in the control group versus the experimental group. This prevents bias in reporting or assessing outcomes.

Yes, metaphorically or in quasi-experimental contexts. In business (A/B testing), education (testing a new teaching method), or policy (piloting a new scheme in one region), a 'control group' refers to the group not exposed to the new variable for comparison.

The group in a scientific experiment that does not receive the treatment or intervention being tested, serving as a baseline for comparison.

Control group is usually academic/scientific/technical in register.

Control group: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈtrəʊl ɡruːp/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈtroʊl ɡruːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.