The Geographies of Ethics in Digital Humanities Research: A Critical Analysis

The geographies of ethics in Digital Humanities research: A critical analysis

Makatleho Germina Lefisa & Dipane Hlalele

Issue: Vol. 7 No.2 2026 Article 11 pp. 565 – 578
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267211| Published online 31st March 2026

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ABSTRACT

This paper explored the geographies of ethics in digital humanities research, examining how ethical practices are shaped by spatial, political, and social contexts. For the purpose of this research, the concept of geographies is understood not solely in spatial terms, but as psycho-social and socio-political spaces that are recursively constructed through research processes. Digital humanities represent a significant shift in the humanities and social sciences, blending computational technologies with critical, humanistic inquiry. As digital methods become increasingly central to research, they raise ethical concerns that demand careful reflection, particularly in relation to where and how research is conducted, funded, and reported. The central research question guiding this study is whether digital humanities research sufficiently recognizes and engages with the ethical implications of diverse geographies. Drawing on a comprehensive literature review of peer-reviewed articles and scholarly analyses, the study employed thematic synthesis to identify recurring concerns and patterns. The findings highlight tensions between technological standards and context-sensitive ethical frameworks, showing how digital technologies may both support and constrain ethical engagement across different geographical and institutional contexts. By mapping the ethical dimensions of digital humanities research through a geographic lens, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how ethics are enacted unevenly in global research landscapes, especially as digitalization continues to reshape scholarly practice.

Keywords: Geographies, Ethics, Digital Humanities, research, Literature Analysis

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Dipane Hlalele is a Full Professor of Education at Sol Plaatje University and a C2 NRF-rated researcher (2022-2027) who appeared in the World Top 100 Education Scientists in South Africa (2022, no. 92), (2024, no. 61) and Africa (2024, no. 87), according to the AD Scientific Index. He published over sixty articles, peer-reviewed conference proceedings and chapters in books.

Makatleho Lefisa is a postdoc fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and a part-time lecturer in the National University of Lesotho (NUL), in the department of adult education. She holds a PhD in psychology of education. Her current research focus is on ethical dimensions in rural geographies.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Lefisa, Makatleho Germina, and Dipane Hlalele. “The Geographies of Ethics in Digital Humanities Research: A Critical Analysis.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.2 (2026): 556 – 565. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267211