Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
unconsciously) the perception of the information need” (9: pg. 71).
If there was no definitive act within the event, the ‘purpose’ or
‘intent’ of the event may be absent. Thus, the ‘critical’ element, per
Flanagan’s definition of critical, is not present and the account can
not be considered ‘critical’. Additionally, it might be difficult for
some researchers to separate the story of one incident when there
is a choice of multiple stories or experiences written within the
same event (9). In other words, the participants’ story might have
more than one experience within the description, thus, the
researcher might have difficulty in unraveling the event. Finally,
subtle changes in the wording of the critical incident question itself
might produce differences with participants’ responses. Thus, the
same exact language is necessary to minimize this potential
limitation.
Reliability and Validity
The recounting of incidents/happenings depends on the participants’
ability to recall events, the authenticity of which is difficult to verify
(3). Validity of data gleaned is partially ensured by the fact that all
participants focus on the same issues. Inter-rater reliability can be
used to make the categorization process less subjective.
Triangulation can increase credibility. CITs’ can be used for
triangulation purposes or utilized in juxtaposition with other data
gathering techniques. For triangulation purposes, CITs’ can be
incorporated as a complement to different data gathering
amalgamation. By using the CIT to validate and verify data, by
double-checking interpretations and findings and using multiple
sources of data collection, the researcher can construct
triangulation. CITs’ can be used as an additional source of data
collection to provide a format to validate and double-check the
researchers’ interpretations and findings.
The CIT can be used a primary source of data collection or as
an evaluation technique, to supplement the interview or
questionnaire questions (9). CITs can be used to refine and/or
revise a primary instrument, such as an open-ended interview
guide, as well as being used as a secondary source of data
collection. A researcher can pilot the CIT to determine if he/she is
asking the right research questions and revise the CIT and other
instruments accordingly.
Studies incorporating the CIT
Since its development as a research instrument, CITs’ have been
popular in many areas of research. The CIT has been developed
and adapted to suit many diverse studies with respect to
“effectiveness, value and impact of service provisions” (9, pg. 71).
Both small and large participant studies can easily adapt and
utilized CITs’ effectively. Some larger-scale studies include a
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