Cause-and-effect relationships refer to the relationship between two variables, where changes in one variable (the cause) result in changes in another variable (the effect).
The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by researchers to observe its effect on other variables.
The dependent variable is the variable that is measured or observed to determine any effects caused by changes in the independent variable.
In experiments, this group does not receive any treatment or manipulation but serves as a baseline for comparison with experimental groups.