Ethical Issues in a Participatory Photography Research Project Involving Youth with Refugee Experience

Abstract

Photography is used in research because of its appeal for communicating, expressing feelings, sharing experiences, raising new awareness of participants and potential audiences, clarifying social issues, and framing plans for action. Taking and sharing photos has become easier particularly because of ready access to devices with cameras. Yet, using photographs in research can undermine anonymity and confidentiality (Noland, 2006), and unanticipated unauthorised dissemination of digital images raises ethical concerns for researchers using photography in their research methods (Brigham, Baillie Abidi, & Calatayud, 2018). In this chapter, the authors discuss the participatory photography method and provide practical suggestions for carrying out ethical research using participatory photography. The authors highlight the cultural, social, and contextual situatedness of ethics by drawing on our own research project with youth with refugee experience.

Citation

Brigham, S.M. and Kharbach, M. (2020), "Ethical Issues in a Participatory Photography Research Project Involving Youth with Refugee Experience", Dodd, S. (Ed.) Ethics and Integrity in Visual Research Methods (Advances in Research Ethics and Integrity, Vol. 5), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 153-170. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2398-601820200000005014