what is a controlled experiment

A controlled experiment is a scientific test done under controlled conditions, meaning that just one (or a few) factors are changed at a time, while all others are kept constant. The purpose of a controlled experiment is to minimize the effects of variables other than the independent variable, which increases the reliability of the results. Controlled experiments require a control group that receives a standard treatment, a fake treatment, or no treatment, and an experimental group that receives the treatment being tested. The control group serves as a baseline group not exposed to the experimental treatment or manipulation, and it allows for a comparison between the experimental and control groups that are identical in all respects except for the one difference - experimental manipulation. The researcher can operationalize the studied variables so they can be objectively measured, and the quantitative data can be analyzed to see if there is a difference between the experimental and control groups. Controlled experiments allow for precise control of extraneous and independent variables, which allows a cause-and-effect relationship to be established.