What is the purpose of a control group in behavior modification studies?

The purpose of a control group in behavior modification studies is to provide a comparison baseline against the experimental group. This allows researchers to determine the effectiveness of the treatment being tested by observing the differences between those who receive the experimental treatment and those who do not. The control group typically does not receive the intervention or may receive a standard treatment, ensuring that any changes in the experimental group can be attributed to the treatment itself rather than other variables. This comparison is crucial for establishing the validity of the study and helps to ensure that the observed effects are a result of the manipulation of the independent variable. In this way, the control group acts as a critical component in the research design, helping to isolate the specific effects of the behavior modification techniques being studied.