Creativity Summary 8

Kelsey Best

Digital Creativity

Summary 6.2.

Ethics in Visual Research

            This article asks the vital question: in a world rife with social rights awareness and the profusion of legislation, is it really a good idea to ignore or downplay ethics? The author focuses on two main issues concerning visual research: acting with integrity and respecting the rights of others. Contextual issues and using the internet are important topics as well.

Concepts:

-       Three basic considerations: the rights of the participants, researcher’s safe working environment and carefully planned research operation that does not breech the standards of justice.

-        Conflicts of interest can be a problem

-       Context is important. Information can be gathered directly or indirectly.

-       Internet = blurred space between public and private

-       Surveillance creeping and lurking; webcam layer on Google Maps

Example:

            The reference made to Google maps really struck me because I never would have considered that to be an unethical program, but in several cases it has violated people’s privacy and disregarded the fact that they have not consented to having their image put on the internet. It exemplifies how tricky the internet is to deal with ethically, because it represents a space that is neither private nor public, so the same rules that apply to each are difficult to follow online.

Position:

            The article was informative and pointed out some information that I perhaps would have looked passed while conducting visual research.  It is important to find a way of representing information in a way that does not violate sensitivity or anonymity. Conflicts of interest should also be taken into consideration so that the participant and/or artist are not put into compromising situations.   

Question:

-       Is there a case, such as Google maps, in which the greater good overrides the ethical objections of a few?