Final answer:
Gender is an independent variable in the study, affecting the relationship between religious views and political views.
Step-by-step explanation:
The variable 'gender' in the study is an independent variable. In this context, gender refers to the biological and social differences between males and females. The researcher believes that gender may affect the way religious views and political views are related to one another. By examining different patterns of linkages between religious views and political views among females and males, the researcher can understand how gender influences this relationship. For example, the researcher may find that females who hold strong religious views tend to have different political views compared to males with strong religious views.