The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), through the Education Statistics Services Institute, supported the research in this report to help frame future discussions about the use of video research techniques in educational settings. This paper addresses the context of technological, legal, and ethical change facing researchers who use video in their work, and examines how these influence the research and treatment of research subjects. A synopsis of past governing ethical and legal guidelines in social science research is provided along with an account of recent developments. The process of research planning and risk assessment is examined,including the use of informed consent and permissions. Also included are concerns surrounding the analysis and dissemination of data in networked telecommunications environments, as well as issues of intellectual property ownership. Some key suggestions for how education researchers using video in their work might proceed in this new context are also provided. Although much of what this paper outlines pertains to electronic data of any kind, including alphanumeric data, graphical data, and pictures, the collection and handling of data in each medium takes place within those legal and ethical boundaries that pertain to its particular type. In this paper, legal and ethical issues that pertain to video data are the primary focus. A listing of NCES Working Papers to Date is provided at the end of the document. (Contains 47 references.) (Author/AEF)