The variable of interest in an ANOVA procedure is called ___. Group of answer choicesa factora partitiona treatmenteither a partition or a treatment

The variable of interest in an ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) procedure is called a factor. In the context of ANOVA, a factor is a categorical independent variable that defines the groups being compared. Each level of the factor represents a category or treatment. Thus, among the options provided:

1. a factor - Correct answer.
2. a partition - Not correct; partition refers to segmenting the total variance.
3. a treatment - While "treatment" can be used in specific contexts, it’s a more narrow term often equated to levels of a factor.
4. either a partition or a treatment - Not accurate as it combines incorrect options.

Therefore, the best answer here is a factor.