Which integrations are available for this server?

Integrates with GitHub to share, discover, and access community-contributed qualitative research methodologies through a community repository Optional integration with OpenAI API to enhance AI-powered qualitative research analysis capabilities including automatic coding, theme extraction, and theory building Uses SQLite as a knowledge graph backend for storing and managing qualitative research data structures and relationships

1. Click on "Install Server". 2. Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state. 3. In the chat, type @ followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@QualAI analyze these interview transcripts for themes" That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed. Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.

🔬 QualAI - AI-Powered Qualitative Research MCP Server

Community-driven, RAG-enhanced qualitative research analysis powered by Claude

Transform qualitative research with AI assistance. QualAI is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that brings advanced AI capabilities to qualitative data analysis while maintaining methodological rigor.

QualAI grows stronger with every researcher who contributes.

Have you developed a unique qualitative methodology? A novel coding technique? An innovative analysis approach?

🌟 Share it with the global research community!

When you contribute your methodology to QualAI:

✅ Help thousands of researchers worldwide discover and use your approach
✅ Get cited every time someone uses your methodology
✅ Receive feedback and improvements from peer researchers
✅ Build your reputation as a methodological innovator
✅ Make qualitative research better for everyone

Your innovation can transform how the world does qualitative research.

👉 Contribute Your Methodology | Browse Community Methods

✨ Revolutionary Features

🤖 AI-Native Analysis

Automatic coding with semantic understanding
Theme extraction with theoretical depth
Saturation detection
Negative case discovery
Inter-coder reliability automation

🌍 Community-Driven Methodologies

RAG-powered methodology library: Access community-contributed research methods
GitHub integration: Share and discover methodologies from researchers worldwide
Validated approaches: Peer-reviewed methodologies with quality ratings
Flexible: Use established methods or create your own

🎯 Core Tools (v1.0)

Methodology Management (3)

selectMethodology - AI finds the best methodology for your research
loadMethodology - Load community methodologies
listMethodologies - Browse available methods

Coding Tools (5)

autoCoding - AI-powered automatic coding
refineCodebook - Optimize your codebook
mergeCodesSmart - Intelligent code merging
suggestSubcodes - Hierarchical code suggestions
validateCoding - Consistency checking

Thematic Analysis (4)

extractThemes - Inductive/deductive theme extraction
analyzePatterns - Pattern and relationship analysis
detectSaturation - Theoretical saturation detection
compareThemesAcrossCases - Cross-case comparison

Theory Building (3)

buildGroundedTheory - Guided grounded theory development
generateConceptMap - Automatic concept mapping
analyzeNarrative - Narrative structure analysis

Validation (4)

findNegativeCases - Negative case analysis
triangulate - Multi-source triangulation
calculateReliability - Inter-coder reliability
assessQuality - Research quality assessment

Reporting (1)

generateReport - Comprehensive analysis reports

Note: v1.0 includes methodology management and knowledge graph. Advanced analysis tools (auto-coding, theme extraction, etc.) are in active development for v1.1.

📋 Prerequisites

System Requirements

Node.js: Version 18.0 or higher
Operating System: Windows 10+, macOS 11+, or Ubuntu 20.04+
Disk Space: At least 500 MB free

🐳 Qdrant Vector Database (Optional but Recommended)

QualAI uses Qdrant for semantic methodology search and RAG-enhanced analysis. While QualAI can work without Qdrant (using local keyword search as fallback), installing Qdrant significantly improves methodology recommendations and semantic search capabilities.

Option 1: Docker (Recommended - Easiest)

Using PowerShell (Windows):

# Install Docker Desktop if not already installed # Download from: https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop # Verify Docker is running docker --version # Run Qdrant container docker run -d -p 6333:6333 -p 6334:6334 ` -v ${PWD}/qdrant_storage:/qdrant/storage ` --name qualai-qdrant ` qdrant/qdrant # Verify Qdrant is running docker ps | Select-String "qualai-qdrant" # Test Qdrant connection curl http://localhost:6333

Using Bash (Linux/macOS):

# Verify Docker is running docker --version # Run Qdrant container docker run -d -p 6333:6333 -p 6334:6334 \ -v $(pwd)/qdrant_storage:/qdrant/storage \ --name qualai-qdrant \ qdrant/qdrant # Verify Qdrant is running docker ps | grep qualai-qdrant # Test Qdrant connection curl http://localhost:6333

Stop/Start Qdrant:

# Stop Qdrant docker stop qualai-qdrant # Start Qdrant again docker start qualai-qdrant # Remove Qdrant (if needed) docker rm -f qualai-qdrant

Option 2: Qdrant Cloud (No Docker Required)

If you don't want to run Docker locally:

Sign up for free at Qdrant Cloud
Create a cluster
Get your API URL and API Key
Use them in the configuration (see below)

Option 3: Run Without Qdrant (Fallback Mode)

QualAI will automatically use local keyword search if Qdrant is not available. No additional setup required, but semantic search will be limited.

🚀 Quick Start

Installation

# Clone the repository git clone https://github.com/seanshin0214/qualai-mcp.git cd qualai-mcp # Install dependencies npm install # Build npm run build

Configure Claude Desktop

Basic Configuration (Without Qdrant)

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{ "mcpServers": { "qualai": { "command": "node", "args": ["C:\\Users\\YOUR-USERNAME\\Documents\\qualai-mcp\\dist\\index.js"] } } }

With Qdrant (Recommended for Best Performance)

If you installed Qdrant using Docker locally:

{ "mcpServers": { "qualai": { "command": "node", "args": ["C:\\Users\\YOUR-USERNAME\\Documents\\qualai-mcp\\dist\\index.js"], "env": { "QDRANT_URL": "http://localhost:6333", "OPENAI_API_KEY": "sk-your-openai-api-key", "QUALAI_GITHUB_REPO": "qualai-community/methodologies" } } } }

If you're using Qdrant Cloud:

{ "mcpServers": { "qualai": { "command": "node", "args": ["C:\\Users\\YOUR-USERNAME\\Documents\\qualai-mcp\\dist\\index.js"], "env": { "QDRANT_URL": "https://your-cluster.cloud.qdrant.io:6333", "QDRANT_API_KEY": "your-qdrant-api-key", "OPENAI_API_KEY": "sk-your-openai-api-key", "QUALAI_GITHUB_REPO": "qualai-community/methodologies" } } } }

Environment Variables Explained:

QDRANT_URL: Qdrant server URL (default: http://localhost:6333)
QDRANT_API_KEY: Required only for Qdrant Cloud (optional for local Docker)
OPENAI_API_KEY: For generating text embeddings (required if using Qdrant)
QUALAI_GITHUB_REPO: Community methodologies repository (default: qualai-community/methodologies)

Restart Claude Desktop

That's it! QualAI is now available in Claude.

💬 First time? Try this:

"I have 15 interview transcripts about remote work experiences. Help me choose the right methodology and start coding."

🌍 Community Methodologies

Current Methodologies (10)

Built-in:

Constructivist Grounded Theory (Charmaz, 2014) - Complete 4-stage process with memo writing
Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) - 6-phase systematic approach
Discourse Analysis (Gee, 2014) - Language-in-use and power relations analysis
Narrative Analysis - Story structure and meaning-making
Phenomenography - Variation in ways of experiencing phenomena
Ethnography - Cultural and social patterns in context
Hermeneutic Analysis - Interpretive understanding and hermeneutic circle
Case Study (Yin/Stake) - In-depth contextual investigation
Action Research - Participatory change-oriented inquiry
Critical Incident Technique (Flanagan) - Significant events analysis

Community Contributed:

Be the first to contribute!

Contributing Your Methodology

Your methodology could help thousands of researchers worldwide.

Step 1: Create Your Methodology

Use our template (see CONTRIBUTING.md)

Step 2: Test Locally

# Place in methodologies/ directory cp your-methodology.json qualai-mcp/methodologies/ # Restart QualAI and test

Fork qualai-community/methodologies
Add your methodology with documentation
Create Pull Request
Community peer review (2+ reviewers)
Merged and available to all! 🎉

Recognition

Your name appears in methodology metadata
Automatic citation generation
Contributor leaderboard
Usage statistics (opt-in)

Ready to contribute? See CONTRIBUTING.md

🏗️ Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Claude Desktop │ │ (User Interface & Conversations) │ └──────────────┬──────────────────────┘ │ MCP Protocol ┌──────────────▼──────────────────────┐ │ QualAI MCP Server │ │ │ │ ┌────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Methodology Orchestrator │ │ │ └────────────────────────────┘ │ │ │ │ ┌─────────┬─────────┬──────────┐ │ │ │ Coding │ Thematic│ Theory │ │ │ │ Engine │ Engine │ Engine │ │ │ └─────────┴─────────┴──────────┘ │ │ │ │ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ RAG System (Qdrant) │ │ │ │ - Community methodologies │ │ │ └─────────────────────────────┘ │ │ │ │ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Knowledge Graph (SQLite) │ │ │ └─────────────────────────────┘ │ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ │ GitHub: qualai-community │ │ Community Methodologies Registry │ │ - YOUR methodology! 🌟 │ └─────────────────────────────────────┘

🤝 Contributing

We welcome all forms of contribution!

Ways to Contribute

📖 Share Methodologies: Most valuable contribution!
🐛 Report Bugs: Help us improve
💡 Suggest Features: Shape QualAI's future
📝 Improve Docs: Help others learn
💻 Submit Code: Enhance functionality

📊 Roadmap

v1.0 (Current) ✅

10 built-in methodologies
RAG-powered methodology selection
Knowledge graph for research data
20 analysis tools

v1.1 (Q1 2025)

Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)
Conversation Analysis
Content Analysis
15+ total methodologies
Enhanced auto-coding with GPT-4

v1.2 (Q2 2025)

Real-time collaboration
Multi-language support (Korean, Spanish, Chinese)
25+ community methodologies
Export to ATLAS.ti, NVivo formats

v2.0 (Q3 2025)

Web interface
50+ community methodologies
Live interview transcription

📄 License

MIT License - see LICENSE

📞 Support & Community

💬 Discussions: GitHub Discussions
🐛 Issues: GitHub Issues
📧 Email: sshin@geri.kr

🌟 Final Call to Action

To Researchers Using QualAI: Your research benefits from methodologies shared by others. Consider giving back!

To Methodology Innovators: Your unique approach could revolutionize how thousands conduct research. Share it!

To the Qualitative Research Community: Together, we're building the world's most comprehensive, open, and accessible methodology library.

Let's transform qualitative research together.

→ Start Contributing Today

Made with ❤️ by researchers, for researchers

Version: 1.0.0 Last Updated: 2025-11-02