Comparing Rapid Qualitative Analysis With Thematic Analysis in a School-Based Mental Health Outcome Evaluation

Rapid qualitative methodology has gained popularity among education evaluators, given increasing pressure to develop and disseminate actionable recommendations. To better understand its relative utility, our study compared rapid qualitative analysis versus thematic analysis, assessing time spent and themes derived. The comparison was conducted within the context of a mixed-method evaluation of a clinical training program for school-based mental health clinicians ( N = 22). As part of the evaluation, clinicians participated in semi-structured interviews exploring their experience with training and implementation in schools. Interview data were analyzed twice, comparing rapid qualitative analysis with thematic analysis guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Our results showed that rapid qualitative analysis was 2.1 times faster than thematic analysis (54 hours vs. 114 hours), and there was an 85.7% overlap in themes. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of rapid qualitative analysis, which can be used to guide the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices.