So the control group gets the independent variable, that would be like the placebo right?

The control group gets none of the IV. The IV goes to the experimental group, thus the name, Experimental group!





Control -%26gt; Placebo





Experimental -%26gt; IV





-Just to help clarify... the placebo is often thought of as a sugar pill. So the control group takes the placebo, in the case of a drug trail, but they think they are getting the real drug. The experimental group, or groups, get doses of the independent variable.





We need to see the effects of someone being measured on how they will change their behavior, which is the point of the placebo. So if you take a weight loss drug and begin to eat smarter because you know you will be weighed at the end of each day, they will not be able to tell how effective the drug is. Unless they get a control group that is told they are given medication and are actually getting nothing. So now we can see how much more effective the drug is compared to just getting your weight checked alone.