What is the role of a control in an experiment?

The role of a control in an experiment is to provide a predetermined consistency throughout the study. Controls are essential for establishing a baseline against which the effects of the experimental variable can be measured. They help ensure that the results are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not other factors.

By keeping certain conditions constant, the experimenter can isolate the effects of the variable being tested. This consistency allows researchers to make valid conclusions about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. In scientific research, the use of controls helps to improve the reliability and validity of the results.

In contrast, a random factor in an experiment, inconsistently measured variables, and measurements taken after the experiment do not serve the foundational purpose of a control, which is to maintain stability and comparability during the experimental process.