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Ethical Considerations in Photography as a Research Method

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Photography as a Social Research Method

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the ethical issues that social researchers might encounter when employing photographic methods. We begin with a discussion dignity as the main ethical foundation of research photography, followed by an examination of the related issues of power and consent. Particular attention is paid to working with vulnerable and groups. The chapter concludes with a discussion of anonymisation. This is particularly difficult problem faced by research photographers who must decide whether protecting the identity of research participants (for example, through pixilation of faces) could be a destruction of their identity thus creating harm in a different way. This chapter provides invaluable insights for social researchers grappling with the ethical dimensions of a research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Sten Langmann

  2. Curtin Business School, Perth, WA, Australia

    David Pick

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  1. Sten Langmann
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  2. David Pick
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Correspondence to Sten Langmann .

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

See Table 3.1.

Table 3.1 Summary of major RECs and codes of ethics
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Langmann, S., Pick, D. (2018). Ethical Considerations in Photography as a Research Method. In: Photography as a Social Research Method. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7279-6_3

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