The Critical Incident Technique and the Qualitative Evaluation of the Connecting Libraries and Schools Project

This article describes Flanagan's Critical Incident Technique (CIT) for those seeking guidance in its application. Examples in the library and information science (LIS) field are discussed, including an in-depth example of a CIT study conducted as part of a qualitative evaluation of the Connecting Libraries and Schools Project (CLASP) in New York City. The CLASP study analyzed critical incidents from 2,416 fifth and seventh grade students regarding their perceptions of interactions with urban public librarians and library staff. For both positive and negative critical incidents, the most important factor in these preadolescent's perception of successful library visits is the attitude of the librarian or staff member they encounter.

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