In qualitative social science research, particularly in ethnographic fieldworkIn scientific research processes, research data refers to all information collected both analog and digital. In social and cultural anthropology, research data is mostly, though not exclusively, gathered through stationary fieldwork and is methodologically characterized by participant observation. This means that data is purposefully generated through social interactions, observation, and interviews, and does not exist independently of the personal and affective interactions between researchers and participants. Therefore, in ethnographic fieldwork, one cannot speak of collecting pre-existing raw data; rather, data is processually created during research and must be understood as constructed. Read More, it is essential to consider ethical and legal guidelines, including those related to informed consent. Since empirical field research is collaborative, reciprocal, and based on trust, collected data are often personal and sensitive. Therefore, researchers must carefully weigh the consequences of their actions and ensure the protection of both research participants and themselves from any potential harm.

„Empirical sciences often explore areas that are legally sensitive in terms of data protection. They deal with confidential, personal, and protected information about individuals. … For any ethically responsible research, it is therefore essential to develop and implement a strategy for protecting the identity of study participants“.

(Trixa & Ebel, 2015, p. 12)¹Translated by Saskia Köbschall.

The protection of research participants must be taken into account when processing research data and materials and when using them, for example, in publications and presentations, as well as when sharing them for reuse. What is required by research ethics has a corresponding legal basis in data protection law: According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the data protection laws of the federal states, the consent (informed consent) of the affected persons must generally be obtained for the collection, deletion, or possible reuse of collected data..

According to the GDPR, particularly sensitive dataWithin the category of personal data, there is a subset known as special categories of personal data. Their definition originates from Article 9(1) of the EU GDPR (2016), which states that these include information about the data subject’s: Read More includes information on origin, political views, religious affiliation, and data on health or sexuality, as the processing of this information may pose a risk to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the affected persons. Data of this kind may only be collected with the explicit consent of the participants and must also be „specifically addressed in a consent declaration if they are collected within the research project or transferred to a research data center for archiving and secondary use“ (Kretzer et al., 2020, p. 2).