Using images, tables & other visual material in your work

There are lots of ethical issues when using data about participants in your work, particularly if the anyone might be identifiable from that data: and data doesn’t come much more identifiable than a picture of someone! 

Therefore, if you are going to include original images, videos or audio recordings you have made in your work, and anyone is identifiable in those images or recordings, you need to get permission from the people who are identifiable before you can use the material. If you can't get permission, you can't use the image or recording.

It is a good idea to obtain permission in a format you can keep, so you can prove you had permission if challenged at a later date.

Please remember that people are allowed to change their minds and withdraw any permission they have given you..

If you are intending to record or photograph your participants as part of a research project, you should factor in obtaining permission as part of your planning: it's a lot easier to organise it ahead of time than to try and get permission retrospectively!

Permission forms

A Sample Participant Consent Form for Images can be found in the University’s Ethics and Integrity webpages, on the Approval Processes for Taught Courses page. 

There may be situations where you include images or recordings which either show something that doesn't actually exist, or show something other than the exact thing you are discussing. In these cases, there is a risk of your reader being misled about whether it is real. Examples might be:

• a mock-up or artist's impression of a product or building that doesn't currently exist
• a replica of an object which is no longer available
• a closely-related substitute for an object, person or place of which you are unable to obtain an image

You should always make it clear and obvious when an image or recording shows something that isn't real or exactly what it seems to be. If your figure has a caption, you can do this as part of the title or description, or by adding a Note. If your image doesn't have a caption, you should find an alternative way of providing that information which fits with your assignment.

Even if you do not intend to deceive, if you seem to be misleading your readers, you can severely damage your credibility: in some commercial situations, you could even face legal action.

There a number of different ethical issues you may need to take into account when using visual materials, according to exactly what you are trying to do. The University’s guidance on research ethics will have more information on what to do in particular cases.

However, although research ethics can potentially be complicated, it is important to say that for the type of assignments and projects where these issues are most common, there will usually be support and processes in place to help students identify and deal with any ethical issues.