What does it mean to "control" an experiment?

Question

to manipulate the data to fit the experiment

to regulate all variables except the one being tested

to limit the number of observations

Answer 1

To "control" an experiment means to regulate or manipulate all variables except the one being tested. This is done in order to isolate and understand the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. By controlling other variables, researchers aim to reduce any potential confounding factors that could influence the results, making it easier to establish a cause-and-effect relationship.