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Short Answer

Use the following information for questions:
A researcher wishes to see whether there is any difference in the average weight gains of athletes following one of three special diets (Diet 1, Diet 2, and Diet 3). The initial study design was to randomly assign the athletes to one of the three diet groups and place them on the diet for six weeks. The weight gain (in pounds) at the end of the six weeks would be recorded for each athlete.
-Gender was also recorded for this study. The results showed that the amount by which the weight gains for the three diets differed was affected by whether the athlete was a male or female. What is the statistical name for the variable gender in this case?