Ethical challenges of using video for qualitative research and ethnography

Abstract

Qualitative video research as well as digital ethnography techniques based on video recordings are steadily increasing. The affordability of high-quality technical equipment, e.g. wearable micro-cameras, and the superior quality of video data compared to other forms of recording have given a ‘visual turn’ to social research methods that is here to stay. The present contribution provides a comprehensive and consistent point of reference for unified guidelines on the ethical conduct of video-ethnography and qualitative research designs based on video data. The chapter includes four main sections. The first provides a systematic review of current research ethics guidelines to collect visual data with different populations (e.g., adults and children), institutions, and informal settings. The second highlights the main challenges, namely critical issues and gaps concerned with a) researcher-researched rapport, b) informed consent, and c) participants’ rights (anonymity, confidentiality, data ownership and release). The third tackles solutions, including setting up the research in a way that fosters ethical behaviours by design. We illustrate this with exemplary cases. The fourth provides practical advice for an ‘ethical twist’ on ethnographic visual research methods by looking at the future of ethical regulations for video research in ethnography.