The development of an efficient technique for collecting and analyzing qualitative data: The analysis of critical incidents

Traditionally, methods for collecting qualitative data have created practical difficulties in that they often require long-term engagement and, as a result, produce a great volume of data. This paper proposes and demonstrates a speedy technique for gathering and analyzing such data. It is argued that an analysis of critical incidents can be used by researchers interested in collecting qualitative data quickly as a method for doing a case study, but also, at the same time, in a participatory way that contributes to understandings that can be useful for the purpose of school improvement.