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(v) Questionnaire length effects(vi) Item sensitivity effects(vii) Leading question effects(viii) Fictitious attitude effects.Not only are these effects discussed in detail in the publications that we havementioned, but a variety of techniques by means of which they can becontrolled for are also discussed (for example random ordering of items,balancing of positive and negative times, and so on).Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zaCONTEXT EFFECTSIn discussing the research context, it is possible to distinguish between thebroader spatio-temporal factors that are determined by historical,sociopolitical, and economic factors, and the narrower research setting withinwhich the experiment, interview, or observation is conducted.Concerning the former, it is essential that the researcher be sensitive to thefollowing types of factors:• The time during which the researcher is conducted. In both longitudinal andcross-sectional studies the time during which the research is conductedmay, for example, play a determining role in people’s attitudes andpreferences. Particularly in the case of longitudinal research where changesin behaviour or attitudes are investigated, significant changes could be theresult of external events such as elections, civil unrest, or increasingunemployment.• Cultural factors such as habits, traditions, customs, and institutions. Thereare numerous examples in the anthropological literature in whichresearchers, to their ultimate detriment, failed to take local conventions andcustoms into account in the design and execution of their research.• Political factors such as the existence of interest groups, a lack of freedom,and intimidation. We have already referred to Schutte’s inaugural addressin which he focusses attention on the influence of the socio-politicalsituation in South Africa, indicating the manner in which it influencesconfidence and participants’ perceptions of researchersAs far as the specific research setting is concerned, Lutynska (1970)distinguishes between four categories of research setting:(1) the private residence of the respondent(2) the respondent’s place of employment(3) a cafe, restaurant, or similar public area, and(4) a park, street, garden, and so on.The importance of this issue is associated with the perceived neutrality of eachsetting. In the first two, the respondent is familiar with the setting, but90