The Critical Incident Technique in Student Affairs Research and Practice

Since the 1950s, the critical incident technique (CIT) has aided researchers in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of qualitative data. In the student affairs literature only a very small number of CIT studies exist. Using the two most recent publications as examples, this article provides a detailed overview of the CIT, highlights its benefits and limitations, and offers specific recommendations for future applications of the CIT in student affairs research and practice.