What is essential for an experimental study to be valid?

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For an experimental study to be valid, randomization and a control group are crucial components. Randomization ensures that participants are assigned to experimental or control groups in a way that eliminates bias, allowing for the results to be attributed to the intervention being tested rather than other factors. This process enhances the internal validity of the study by helping to ensure that the groups are comparable at the start of the experiment.

A control group serves as a benchmark against which the effects of the experimental treatment can be compared. This group does not receive the intervention and helps to isolate the effect of the treatment from other variables that may influence the outcome. By comparing results between the experimental group and the control group, researchers can more confidently attribute any differences in outcomes directly to the intervention.

In summary, the combination of randomization and a control group forms the foundation of a rigorous experimental design, facilitating the reliability and validity of the study's conclusions.

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