The Critical Incident Technique
A Practical Guide to Capturing and Analyzing Meaningful Moments in Qualitative Research
Many researchers struggle with qualitative data collection, unsure how to capture the moments that truly matter. The Critical Incident Technique offers a proven solution—a structured yet flexible approach to identifying and analyzing the specific behavioral events that reveal deep insights about human performance, organizational culture, and social dynamics. This guide walks you through every stage of the process, from defining what makes an incident "critical" for your research to conducting interviews that elicit rich, detailed accounts, and finally, analyzing your data to uncover meaningful patterns. Whether you're studying workplace effectiveness, educational outcomes, healthcare delivery, or user experiences, you'll learn how to apply CIT with confidence and rigor. Discover how to design incident collection strategies tailored to your research questions, navigate common pitfalls, ensure your findings are valid and reliable, and translate your analysis into actionable insights. This book combines theoretical foundations with practical tools, real-world examples, and step-by-step guidance to help you master this powerful qualitative research method.
Est. Length
191 pages (9 chapters)
Language
English
Publication date
Dec 11, 2025
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