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the researcher’s views, insufficient supporting evidence/reasons for the finalconclusion, implicit prejudice, etc. In empirical research the researcher shouldtake a variety of confounding variables into account which could threaten thefinal validity of his findings. The aim of a research design is after all to controlfor systematic bias, confounding variables and experimenter effects by meansof various measures.GUIDELINE 7The research report should include information on the ways in whichreliability/validity and objectivity of the data/information have beencontrolled.Data-collectionAgainst the background of considerations regarding data collection in thedesign stage, the researcher should report on the methods and techniques ofdata collection, the time when the project was executed, and the events at thattime which could have had an influence on the data collected, the controls usedto ensure that the process of data collection yielded reliable data, etc.Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zaGUIDELINE 8The research report should detail relevant information on the methods(and context) of data collection.AnalysisAnalysis includes both qualitative (for example historical and conceptualanalysis) and quantitative approaches. It is generally accepted that empiricaldata can be analysed in different ways. Different approaches to such analysiscan sometimes lead to different findings. A few examples are the differentways in which large data sets can be reduced (for example by various types offactor analysis), the different methods of stratification, the statistical control ofvariables (for example analysis of covariance), bivariate and multivariateapproaches, etc. Since different approaches can often have more or less thesame validity, the researcher must give reasons for specific choices.GUIDELINE 9The procedures used for analysis should be described in full.194