Which group had a mean recall of 5.8 names and places?

The control group had a mean recall of 5.8 names and places, which typically serves as a baseline against which the performance of other experimental groups can be compared. In research designs, the control group often does not receive the experimental treatment or manipulation—such as engaging in doodling or any distracting task. This group’s performance reflects the natural or uninfluenced ability of participants to recall information, allowing researchers to assess the impact of the variable being tested in other groups.

While other groups may show variation in recall due to being subjected to different conditions, the control group’s performance provides crucial context for understanding how those conditions influenced memory recall.