Control group

The control group is a hypothesized segment of the TIPster population who were granted access to TIP despite the fact that they failed to meet the entrance requirements. Supposedly they are allowed in as part of a scientific study to see how they fare in tough classes in the presence of smarter peers. In both TIP Llore evening activities at East Term II of 2009 and 2010, it has been said that at the beginning of Duke, there was indeed a control group. Whether one exists now or not is unclear, but it's based on actual history of the camp.

Usage

• Ex. 1

Can you believe Sweatshop Girl said sweatshop workers must be happy to have jobs? She MUST be control group.
Person One: Steve Jobs, he's the microsoft guy, right?
Person Two: What are you, control group?

• Ex. 2
  

Control Kid: "I'm not weird, you're all just normal!"
Everyone else: "Poor control group child..."

Prevalence by campus

This theory was not at West term I in 2005, however it was definitely present in 2005 at West II...however, it was an RC who ressurrected it. He passed the theory on to a few 3rd and 4th years, in the hopes that the theory would be passed on to future TIP generations. The control group of 2005 West, it is theorized, was the entire group of 2nd years.

The control group theory is prevalent at Duke East, in both terms, and has been for many years. The PILF class made a short film about the Control Group Term II 2004.

The rumor was back at Duke West Term I '09 as many kids thought that half of the forensics class and almost all of the second year girls were part of the control group.

Texas A&M 2011 Term 2: a phrase frequently used.

Why it's not true

This legend refuses to die, and with good reason - its funny and partially convincing. However, it implies the wrong understanding of what the TIP experiment in educational psychology is about. TIP is about (for the main office, at least) studying how gifted students react to a non-traditional classroom environment (no homework, no grades, one class intensively, etc.). So, the 'control group' for such an experiment would be gifted students in a traditional classroom environment, i.e. any gifted student who does not attend TIP. So there is no control group at TIP.