The is the part of the experiment that serves as a basis of comparison: the experimenter attempts to keep these
(a) conditions
(b) constant
(a) conditions
The part of the experiment that serves as a basis of comparison is (a) conditions. The experimenter attempts to keep these conditions constant.
The part of the experiment that serves as a basis of comparison and where the experimenter attempts to keep certain aspects unchanged is called (b) constant conditions.
To arrive at this answer, we need to understand the terms "basis of comparison" and "constant conditions."
1. Basis of comparison: In an experiment, a basis of comparison is used to measure the effects or changes that occur due to the variables being studied. It provides a standard against which the experimental results can be compared.
2. Constant conditions: These are the factors or variables in an experiment that are deliberately kept unchanged throughout the study. By keeping these conditions constant, the experimenter can ensure that any observed changes or effects are solely due to the manipulated variables and not influenced by other factors.
Given these definitions, option (b) constant conditions best aligns with the description because it refers to the aspect of maintaining the same conditions throughout the experiment as the basis of comparison. Option (a) conditions does not explicitly convey the idea of keeping aspects unchanged, so it is not the correct answer in this case.