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control experiment

American  

noun

  1. an experiment in which the variables are controlled so that the effects of varying one factor at a time may be observed.


control experiment British  

noun

  1. an experiment designed to check or correct the results of another experiment by removing the variable or variables operating in that other experiment. The comparison obtained is an indication or measurement of the effect of the variables concerned

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of control experiment

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To confirm that the observed differences were truly caused by the actin mutation and not by other genetic variations, the researchers performed a crucial control experiment.

From Science Daily

In a control experiment, it was investigated whether similar sensations could also be perceived without visual contact with virtual objects purely due to experimental situation demands.

From Science Daily

Dr. Kohda emphasized the need for more control experiments to rule out other possibilities.

From New York Times

“It was an incredibly powerful control experiment for something that wasn’t really on many people’s radar at the time,” he says.

From Scientific American

Instead, researchers proved the connection through a randomized control experiment, with the judges of Ireland their unwitting test subjects.

From Washington Post