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10
RESEARCH IV
QUARTER 2
Week 4

Capsulized Self-Learning Empowerment

Toolkit

Schools Division Office of Zamboanga City

Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula
Zamboanga City

“Unido, Junto avanza con el EduKalidad Cree, junto junto puede!”

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-I

Zamboanga City High School
 1

SUBJECT & Research

QUARTER 2 WEEK 4 DAY __________________________________
GRADE/LEVEL IV dd/mm/yyyy

TOPIC Experimental and Control Groups

7. differentiate experimental group from control group
LEARNING
8. identify the experimental group and control group from the given
COMPETENCY
research problem/situation
IMPORTANT: Do not write anything on this material. Write all your answers for the SAQ,
Let’s Practice Activities and Try Items on a separate sheet/s of paper.

UNDERSTAND
Scientists test their Now, that you know what a
hypotheses using controlled hypothesis is and its different
experiments. types, you are now ready to find
out how hypotheses are tested
by scientists/researchers.

What is a controlled experiment?

A controlled experiment is a scientific test done under controlled conditions, meaning
that just one variable is changed at a time, while other variables are kept constant.

How is a controlled experiment done?

Supposing an experimenter wanted to grow bean sprouts in his kitchen, near the window.
He placed bean seeds in a pot with soil and set them on the windowsill, and waited for them
to sprout. After several weeks however, he observed that the pot had no sprouts. He began
wondering why. Then he remembered that he forgot to water the seeds. He then hypothesized
that the seeds did not sprout because of lack of water.
To test his hypothesis, he conducted a controlled experiment. He used two identical
pots. Both were planted with ten (10) bean seeds in the same type of soil and both are placed
in the same window. One pot of seeds gets watered every day while the other pot does not
get any water at all.
After a week, nine (9) out of ten seeds in the watered pot have sproutd, while none of the
seeds in the dry pot have sprouted.
Let us see how this example illustrates the parts of a controlled experiment.

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-I

Zamboanga City High School
 2

The first photo shows that two identical pots are prepared. Ten (10) bean seeds are
added to each pot. The pots are placed near the window.
The second photo shows that one pot, the experimental group, is watered. The other
pot, the control group is not watered.
The third photo illustrates that the experimental (watered) pot contained 9/10 seed
sprouts. In the control (unwatered) pot, 0/10 seeds sprout.

There are two groups in the experiment, and they are identical except
that one receives a treatment (water) while the other does not. The
group that receives the treatment in an experiment (the watered pot) is
called the experimental group, while the group that does not receive
the treatment (the dry pot) is called the control group.

SAQ-1: What are the independent and dependent variables in the example given?

What is an experimental group?

An experimental group is a group that receives a treatment in the experiment. It is the

group that receives the variable being tested in an experiment. This group is exposed to
changes in the independent variable being tested.

What is a control group?

The control group is a group that does not receive the experimental treatment
(independent variable). It is sometimes called the comparison group. The control group is
given either a standard treatment or nothing.
It is used to establish a cause-and-effect relationship by isolating the effect of an
independent variable.

Why is a Control Group Important?

Although the control group does not receive any treatment, it does play a critical role in
the experimental process. This group serves as a benchmark, allowing researchers to
compare the experimental group to the control group to see what influence the changes
to the independent variable produced.
Using a control group means that any change in the dependent variable can be attributed
to the independent variable.

Examples
1. You are testing to see if a new plant
fertilizer increases sunflower size. You Let us look at some examples so
put 20 plants of the same height and that you will be able to understand
strain (variety) into a location where all better the concept of an
the plants get the same amount of experimental and control group.
water and sunlight. One half of the
plants get the regular fertilizer. The
other half of the plants get the fertilizer
you are testing.

Null Hypothesis:
There is no difference in the sunflower size of sunflower plants applied with the
experimental fertilizer and regular fertilizer.

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-I

Zamboanga City High School
 3

Alternative Hypothesis:
Sunflower plants applied with the experimental fertlizer have bigger flowers.

Independent Variable: Type of Fertilizer Dependent Variable: Sunflower size

Experimental Group: The group that is applied with the experimental fertilizer.

Control Group: The group of plants that receives regular fertilizer.

2. Suzie Q wants to know the effect of different colors of light on the growth of plants. She
buys 5 ferns of the same species, which are all approximately the same age and height. She
places one in white light, one in blue light, one in green light, one in red light and one in the
closet. All of the ferns are planted in Miracle-Grow and given 20 mL of water once a day for 2
weeks. After the two weeks, Suzie observes the plants and measured the height of each plant.

Null Hypothesis:
There is no difference in the height of the plants grown under white light, blue light, green
light, red light and that which is kept in the closet.

Alternative Hypothesis:
There is a difference in the height of the plants grown under white light, blue light, green
light, red light and that which is kept in the closet.

Independent Variable: Type of light Dependent Variable: Height of the plant

Experimental Group: The group of plants that are grown under different colors of light
(except white light).

Control Group: The plants that are under white light and the plant kept inside the closet.
(NOTE: White light is the light that we get from sunlight and is composed of different colors of
light)

3. Fernando grew ten mint plants on his back porch. He grew each plant in its own pot,
and each pot was the same size and shape. Fernando noticed that his plants did not grow
many leaves, and he wanted to see if earthworms could help them grow more. To test this
idea, Fernando divided his ten plants into two equal groups. For one group, he added three
earthworms to the soil in each pot. He did not add any earthworms to pots in the other group.
Two months later, Fernando counted the number of leaves on each of the ten plants.
He compared the number of leaves on the plants in each group.

Null Hypothesis:
Mint plants planted in soil with and without earthworms have the same number of leaves.

Alternative Hypothesis:
Mint plants grown in soil with earthworms more leaves.

Independent Variable: Addition of earthworms on plant soil

Dependent Variable: Number of leaves

Experimental Group: The group of plants that are planted on soil with earthworms.

Control Group: The plants that are planted on soil without earthworms.

SAQ-2: What type of alternative hypothesis is in example #1? #2? #3?

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-I

Zamboanga City High School
 4

SAQ-3: What is the difference between an experimental and control group?

Let’s Practice! (Write your answer on the separate sheet/s of paper.)

A. Read the following experiments and supply the needed information below.
1. You water three sunflower plants with salt water. Each plant receives a different
concentration of salt solutions. A fourth plant receives regular water. After a two-week period,
the height is measured.
Null Hypothesis:
_________________________________________________________________________

Alternative Hypothesis:
_________________________________________________________________________

Independent Variable: ______________________________________________________

Dependent Variable: _______________________________________________________

Experimental Group:
_________________________________________________________________________

Control Group:
_________________________________________________________________________

2. Scientists wanted to determine the levels of pollution that a fish could withstand. They
placed fish in tanks with differing pollution levels and timed how long they could live under
those conditions.
Null Hypothesis:
_________________________________________________________________________

Alternative Hypothesis:
_________________________________________________________________________

Independent Variable: ______________________________________________________

Dependent Variable: _______________________________________________________

Experimental Group:
_________________________________________________________________________

Control Group:
_________________________________________________________________________

REMEMBER
Key Points

▪ An experimental group is the group that receives an experimental procedure. This

group is exposed to changes in the independent variable being tested.
▪ The control group in an experiment is the group that does not receive any treatment.
It is used in an experiment as a point of comparison.

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-I

Zamboanga City High School
 5

TRY
Let’s see how much you have learned today!
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
A. Read and understand each item carefully and choose the letter of the best answer.
Write the letter of your choice on your answer sheet.
_____1. Which statement best describes the difference between a control and an
experimental group?
A. The control group does not receive a treatment while an experimental group
receives a treatment.
B. A control group may or may not be present in an experimental set-up while an
experimental group is always present.
C. An experimental group does not receive a treatment while a control group receives
a treatment.
D. An experimental group has an independent variable while a control group does not.
_____2. A group of students would like to explore the effect of salt on plant growth. What
would be the experimental group?
A. The set of plants that received salt treatment.
B. The set of plants not exposed to salt.
C. The set of plants that receive and does not receive the salt treatment.
D. The set of plants that either receive or does not receive the salt treatment.
_____3. Which group serves as the point of comparison in an experiment?
A. Control group
B. Experimental group
C. The group that receives the treatment.
D. The group that contains the independent variable.
_____4. A marine biologist wants to test whether the duration of light exposure affects fish
reproduction. He sets up two groups. The first group would be exposed to a "normal" number
of hours of light, while the other group would be exposed to different duration of light exposure.
What is the control group?
A. The group that is exposed to different duration of light exposure.
B. The group that receives “normal” number of hours of light.
C. The group that receives either treatment.
D. The group that receives both treatments
_____5. Why is a control group important in an experiment?
A. To determine if the change in the dependent variable has resulted from the
treatment.
B. To stop the effect of the treatment.
C. To make sure that the treatment is effective.
D. To make sure that there will be two groups in an experiment.

B. Read the situation below. Supply the needed information below.

Strawberry plant clones are given different amounts of water for a 3-week period. First
strawberry plant receives 400 millilitres (ml) a day. The second strawberry plant receives
200ml a day. The third strawberry plant receives 100ml a day. The fourth strawberry plant
does not receive any extra water; this plant only receives natural ways of receiving water. The
height of the strawberry plants is recorded daily.

Null Hypothesis:
_________________________________________________________________________

Alternative Hypothesis (Directional):

_________________________________________________________________________
Independent Variable: ______________________________________________________

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-I

Zamboanga City High School
 6

Dependent Variable: _______________________________________________________

Experimental Group:
_________________________________________________________________________

Control Group:
_________________________________________________________________________

Cherry, Kendra. “Why Control Groups Play an Essential Role in Psychology

Experiments.” Verywell Mind, October 5, 2020.
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-control-group-2794977.

“Controlled Experiments (Article).” Khan Academy. Khan Academy. Accessed March

15, 2021. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-
biology-foundations/hs-biology-and-the-scientific-method/a/experiments-and-
observations.

Helmenstine, Todd. “Control vs. Experimental Group: How Do They Differ?”

ThoughtCo. Accessed March 15, 2021. https://www.thoughtco.com/control-
and-experimental-group-differences-606113.

"Png Peabody Sherman - Google Search: Movie Character Wallpaper, Cartoon

Character Design, Cute Cartoon Boy." Pinterest. Accessed February 27, 2021.
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/590604938604978177/.

"Mr Peabody And Sherman Wallpaper Hd, HD Png Download , Transparent Png
Image - PNGitem." PNGitem.com. Accessed February 27, 2021.
REFERENCE/S https://www.pngitem.com/middle/hwwhJmJ_mr-peabody-and-sherman-
wallpaper-hd-hd-png/.

"Mr Peabody And Sherman Wallpaper Hd, HD Png Download , Transparent Png
Image - PNGitem." PNGitem.com. Accessed February 27, 2021.
https://www.pngitem.com/middle/hwwhJmJ_mr-peabody-and-sherman-
wallpaper-hd-hd-png/

Stephanie. “Control Group: Definition, Examples and Types.” Statistics How To,
September 16, 2020. https://www.statisticshowto.com/control-group/.

Stephanie. “Experimental Group (Treatment Group): Definition, Examples.” Statistics

How To, January 20, 2019. https://www.statisticshowto.com/experimental-
group/.

Thomas, Lauren. “Control Groups and Treatment Groups: Uses & Examples.”
Scribbr, March 8, 2021. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/control-
group/#:~:text=An%20experimental%20group%2C%20also%20known,identic
al%20in%20all%20other%20ways.

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WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-I

Zamboanga City High School