Visual Methods for Sensitive Images: Ethics and Reflexivity in Criminology On/Offline

This edited book provides a toolbox for researchers and students working with sensitive images in criminological research on and offline. Across three sections on collecting, analysing and mediating sensitive visual data, the chapters cover a wide array of current examples and discussions of visual methods and ethics in contemporary, digital-life criminology. It reflects the experiences of influential and innovative scholars engaging in empirical analysis of images across various subfields within criminology, including with images that deal with crime, social problems and stigma. They emphasize the opportunity for gaining knowledge through visual analysis and include methodological discussions of how to approach such sensitive data material. Some chapters address visuals as data in mediated realities and the related methodological concerns. The book also contributes to discussing the various ethical sides to researching crime-related sensitive images, such as anonymity, consent, and access, but also relates to researcher reflexivity and protecting researchers’ well-being.

Sidsel Harder is Assistant Professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Silje Bakken is Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oslo, Norway.