J Dent Educ. 72(3): 305-316 2008
© 2008 American Dental Education Association
Critical Issues in Dental Education |
The Critical Incident Technique and Pediatric Dentistry: A Worked Example
Kirsten FitzGerald, B.Dent.Sc., M.F.D. (R.C.S.I.), M.S.;
N. Sue Seale, D.D.S., M.S.D.;
Carolyn A. Kerins, D.D.S., Ph.D.;
Rosaleen McElvaney, M.Psych.Sc.;
Elaine Fitzgerald, M.A.
Key words: qualitative research, critical incident technique, pediatric dentistry, dental education, student viewpoint, dental students
Submitted for publication 06/22/07;
accepted 11/10/07
Evaluating dental students experiences in pediatric dentistry may help dental educators better prepare graduates to treat the children in their communities. This qualitative investigation aimed to collect and analyze data using the critical incident technique (CIT). Sixty dental students at one southwestern dental school participated in 103 recorded interviews. They described 150 positive and 134 negative experiences related to the pediatric dentistry clinic. Analysis of the data resulted in the identification of four key factors related to their experiences: 1) the instructor; 2) the patient; 3) the learning process; and 4) the learning environment. The contribution made by the patient to dental students education has not been previously addressed. The CIT is a useful data collection and analysis technique that provides rich, useful data and has many potential uses in dental education.
Copyright © 2008 by the American Dental Education Association.