What does a control condition refer to in a research study?

The control condition in a research study refers to a situation in which participants do not receive the active treatment being tested. This means that the participants in the control condition may either receive no treatment at all or may receive a placebo, which is an inert substance designed to have no therapeutic effect. The purpose of the control condition is to provide a baseline against which the effects of the treatment can be compared. By ensuring that there is a group without the treatment, researchers can more accurately determine whether any observed changes in the experimental group are due to the treatment or other external factors. This design is essential for establishing the efficacy and validity of the intervention being studied, as it helps to rule out confounding variables.