The is the part of the experiment that serves as a basis of comparison: the experimenter attempts to keep these
(a) control variable
(b) data
(c) variables
(a) control variable
The part of the experiment that serves as a basis of comparison is called the control variable. To identify the control variable in an experiment, you need to understand the purpose of the experiment and what the researcher is trying to measure or observe.
To determine the control variable, follow these steps:
1. Understand the purpose of the experiment: Identify the specific question or hypothesis that the researcher is trying to answer or test.
2. Identify the independent variable(s): These are the factors or conditions that the researcher intentionally changes or manipulates in the experiment.
3. Identify the dependent variable(s): These are the factors or conditions that the researcher measures or observes to assess the effect of the independent variable(s).
4. Identify the control variable(s): These are the factors or conditions that the researcher keeps constant or unchanged throughout the experiment. The purpose of the control variable is to provide a baseline or reference point for comparison.
For example, let's say a researcher is conducting an experiment to investigate the effect of different fertilizers on plant growth. The independent variable would be the type of fertilizer used, the dependent variable would be the plant growth, and the control variable would be factors like temperature, light exposure, water, and soil conditions. By keeping these control variables constant for all groups of plants, the researcher can isolate and compare the effects of the different fertilizers accurately.
So, in this case, the answer would be (a) control variable.