How doexperimental and control groups differ? Explain with the help of anexample.

Experimentalgroups differ from control groups as independent variablemanipulation occurs in an experimental group whereas it is absent ina control group. For example, in a study conducted by Latane andDarley, there were two experimental groups and one control group. Theparticipants in the study were sent to three types of rooms.

Room 1 inwhich the participant was alone formed the control group. Room 2 and3, in which two persons were present with the participant formedexperimental groups.

Theindependent variable, in this study, was the absence or presence ofother persons sitting in the room. The remaining factors in theexperiment were the same for both kinds of groups. In experimentalgroups, two persons were present with the real participant while inthe control group, participant was alone. Therefore, it can be saidthat the manipulated variable is absent in control group.