Restgroep

Restgroep is a Dutch term that literally means “rest group” or “remainder group.” It is used to refer to the portion of a set or population that remains after other parts have been allocated, excluded, or otherwise distinguished. The exact meaning depends on the context, but the core idea is that the restgroep denotes a catch-all or residual category rather than a specifically defined target or intervention group.

In research and data analysis, the restgroep can describe participants who do not fit into the predefined experimental or comparison groups. For example, in a study with an intervention group and a control group, the restgroep might include participants who were ineligible, dropped out, or were otherwise not assigned to the main groups. The restgroep is often described for completeness or used as a basis for exploratory comparisons, but it can introduce bias if treated as a formal analytical category without careful justification.

In educational, social, or program-evaluation contexts, the term can refer to the portion of students, clients, or subjects who do not belong to the primary target group for a program. Comparisons between the target groups and the restgroep may be used to assess how the program affects those outside the intended criteria, or to understand the broader impact of an intervention.

Usage notes: restgroep is not always a formal term in research guidelines, and its exact interpretation can vary by field. In many cases, more precise labels such as referent groep, resterende populatie, or controle/voorbeeldgroepen are preferred to avoid ambiguity. See also: doelgroepen, controlegroep, subgroepen.