You sound like a DC bureaucrat.

"We have all this data that conclusively proves that the vaxx is bad, but because we don't have the right paperwork -- just ignore it. tHerE wAs nO cONtroL gRoup!"

I'm a fan of truth. I'm a fan of the scientific method (and yes, when lives are at stake I'm willing to forgo the 'proper paperwork').

A control group should represent what would happen if the intervention or variable in question was not introduced, which often aims to reflect what is 'normal' or typical within a larger population. There are some studies where the control group 'signs up', and there are others where the control group is the 'background population'. See 'observational studies', 'natural experiments', 'public health interventions', some 'cohort studies', and more.

We can agree to disagree.

You sound like a DC bureaucrat.

"We have all this data that conclusively proves that the vaxx is bad, but because we don't have the right paperwork -- just ignore it. tHerE wAs nO cONtroL gRoup!"

I'm a fan of truth. I'm a fan of the scientific method (and yes, when lives are at stake I'm willing to forgo the 'proper paperwork').

A control group should represent what would happen if the intervention or variable in question was not introduced, which often aims to reflect what is 'normal' or typical within a larger population. See 'observational studies', 'natural experiments', 'public health interventions', some 'cohort studies', and more.

We can agree to disagree.

You sound like a DC bureaucrat.

"We have all this data that conclusively proves that the vaxx is bad, but because we don't have the right paperwork -- just ignore it. tHerE wAs nO cONtroL gRoup!"

I'm a fan of truth. I'm a fan of the scientific method (and yes, when lives are at stake I'm willing to forgo the 'proper paperwork').

We can agree to disagree.