In an independent groups design, which group is exposed to the independent variable?

In an independent groups design, the experimental group is the group that is exposed to the independent variable. This design involves dividing participants into separate groups where each group experiences a different condition of the independent variable. The purpose of having an experimental group is to observe the effects of varying the independent variable while keeping other factors constant.

The experimental group is crucial for determining whether the manipulation of the independent variable leads to changes in the dependent variable, which is what the research aims to measure. By comparing the outcomes from the experimental group with those from a control group, researchers can assess the impact of the independent variable on the participants.

In this context, the control group is not exposed to the independent variable, which allows researchers to understand what happens to participants without any treatment or manipulation, serving as a baseline for comparisons. Other options like "dependent group" and "random group" do not accurately describe the groups involved in this experimental design and serve different functions or meanings in psychological research. Thus, the identification of the experimental group as the one exposed to the independent variable is essential for the integrity and outcomes of the study.