README.md•9.15 kB
# 🔬 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.
---
## 💡 Share Your Innovative Research Methods!
**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**](#contributing-your-methodology) | [**Browse Community Methods**](https://github.com/qualai-community/methodologies)
---
## ✨ 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
---
n**Note:** v1.0 includes methodology management and knowledge graph. Advanced analysis tools (auto-coding, theme extraction, etc.) are in active development for v1.1.
## 🚀 Quick Start
### Installation
```bash
# 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
Add to your `claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"qualai": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["C:\\Users\\YOUR-USERNAME\\Documents\\qualai-mcp\\dist\\index.js"],
"env": {
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-openai-key-optional",
"QUALAI_GITHUB_REPO": "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 (2)
**Built-in:**
1. **Constructivist Grounded Theory** (Charmaz, 2014)
2. **Reflexive Thematic Analysis** (Braun & Clarke, 2006)
**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
```bash
# Place in methodologies/ directory
cp your-methodology.json qualai-mcp/methodologies/
# Restart QualAI and test
```
#### Step 3: Share with Community
1. Fork [qualai-community/methodologies](https://github.com/qualai-community/methodologies)
2. Add your methodology with documentation
3. Create Pull Request
4. Community peer review (2+ reviewers)
5. 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](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
1. **📖 Share Methodologies**: Most valuable contribution!
2. **🐛 Report Bugs**: Help us improve
3. **💡 Suggest Features**: Shape QualAI's future
4. **📝 Improve Docs**: Help others learn
5. **💻 Submit Code**: Enhance functionality
---
## 📊 Roadmap
### v1.1 (Q1 2025)
- [ ] Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)
- [ ] Discourse Analysis tools
- [ ] 10+ community methodologies
### v1.2 (Q2 2025)
- [ ] Real-time collaboration
- [ ] Multi-language support
- [ ] 25+ community methodologies
### v2.0 (Q3 2025)
- [ ] Web interface
- [ ] 50+ community methodologies
---
## 📄 License
MIT License - see [LICENSE](LICENSE)
---
## 📞 Support & Community
- **💬 Discussions**: [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/seanshin0214/qualai-mcp/discussions)
- **🐛 Issues**: [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/seanshin0214/qualai-mcp/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**](https://github.com/qualai-community/methodologies)
---
**Made with ❤️ by researchers, for researchers**
**Version**: 1.0.0
**Last Updated**: 2025-11-02