Ethics of Choice, Empathy, and Evidence in Interactive Documentary Forms

Kakungulu Samuel J.

Faculty of Education, Kampala International University, Uganda

                                                                                   ABSTRACT
This paper examines the ethical dimensions of interactive documentary (i-doc) forms through three interrelated lenses: choice, empathy, and evidence. As digital technologies transform documentary practice, interactivity introduces new possibilities for user agency, participatory storytelling, and co-creation of meaning. However, these affordances also generate complex ethical challenges. The study explores how choice architecture shapes autonomy, responsibility, and narrative control, often balancing user freedom with subtle forms of coercion. It further analyzes empathy as both an affective and cognitive mechanism, highlighting how interactive engagement can deepen emotional connection while also risking manipulation or selective identification. In addition, the paper interrogates the evolving nature of evidence in interactive contexts, where user-generated content raises questions of credibility, data provenance, and representational truth. Drawing on conceptual analysis and case-based insights, the study underscores the need for robust ethical frameworks that address design practices, stakeholder involvement, and methodological evaluation. Ultimately, it argues that while interactive documentaries hold significant potential for enhancing civic engagement, critical literacy, and participatory culture, their ethical integrity depends on carefully negotiated relationships between agency, empathy, and evidentiary standards.

Keywords: Interactive documentary; Ethics of choice; Empathy; User-generated evidence; and Narrative agency.

CITE AS: Kakungulu Samuel J. (2026). Ethics of Choice, Empathy, and Evidence in Interactive Documentary Forms. IDOSR JOURNAL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES 12(1):44-51.
https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJAH/2025/1214451