Context Sensitivity

Visual data are never neutral pieces of information. They carry traces of the situations in which they were produced, the relationships between researchers and participants, and the social or cultural settings in which images circulate. For this reason, visual materials are often highly context sensitive and require careful reflection from the very beginning of a research project.  

Already in the conceptual phase, researchers should consider how the context surrounding visual data may influence their interpretation, sharing, and future reuse.

Thinking about context sensitivity early helps researchers anticipate potential ethical and methodological challenges.

For this reason, the conceptual phase is the moment to reflect on how visual data will be understood, handled, and governed across the research lifecycle. Researchers clarify their assumptions about what counts as visual data and what role these materials will play in the study, while also considering questions related to consent, data protection, reuse, and degrees of openness.