What is rapid qualitative research?

Cecilia Vindrola-Padros, Co-Director of the Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL), UCL, is the author of a new book from SAGE Publishing, Doing Rapid Qualitative Research. Use discount code SAGE30 for 30% off when you order it from SAGE Publishing. To learn more about RREAL, please visit: https://www.rapidresearchandevaluation.com/ or follow @RREALwork.

What is rapid qualitative research?

The need to deliver research findings at a time when these can be used to inform decision-making processes has led many researchers to experiment with rapid qualitative research approaches. These approaches share the following characteristics:

·        Iterative design, often carrying out data collection and analysis in parallel

·        Involve at least some degree of participatory research (including relevant stakeholders in the design and/or implementation of the study)

·        Combine multiple methods of data collection and carry out triangulation during analysis

·        Can rely on the use of teams of researchers to cover more ground during data collection or contribute to data analysis

·        Are normally carried out within short study timeframes (a few weeks to a few months) or might include multiple data collection exercises of short duration, but the study is extended over a longer period of time (i.e. rapid feedback evaluations that run for a few years, but include short and intensive periods of data collection and analysis to share emerging findings as the evaluation is ongoing).

Reason 1: Iterative designs

As mentioned above, many rapid qualitative research approaches rely on the use of repetitive cycles of data collection and analysis, often running these research stages in parallel. These iterative cycles allow teams to continuously review and synthesize data, identifying gaps at a time when these can still be addressed. This iterative design can also help researchers to generate emerging findings so these can be shared with stakeholders, obtaining their feedback as the study is ongoing and using this feedback to prompt changes in the study design (if needed). 

Reason 2: Stakeholder engagement

Rapid qualitative research approaches have incorporated participatory approaches to engage community members and other stakeholders in stages of study design and implementation. One aspect of study design that facilitates early stakeholder engagement is the integration of a scoping stage. Rapid qualitative studies need to have focused research questions and limited scope so the studies can be carried out in a short amount of time. During a scoping stage, the research team will carry out exploratory research with relevant stakeholders, often involving some informal discussions, observations and documentary analysis. The findings from this exploratory research are discussed with relevant stakeholders and these discussions (many times facilitated through participatory discussion techniques such as ranking exercises, pile sorting and prioritisation strategies) are used to co-design the research questions guiding the study, the scope of the study, methodology and the dissemination plan. Arrangements can be made at this stage to involve stakeholders in later stages of the study, sharing emerging findings with them and obtaining their feedback. These engagement processes allow researchers to make sure their studies are relevant to the needs of stakeholders and responsive to unexpected changes. 

Reason 3: Analytical techniques with different purposes

When designing a rapid qualitative study, researchers will often plan different analytical techniques depending on the aims of the study. The iterative design of these approaches means that analysis begins at the same time as data collection and, while, rapid analysis can generate a brief high-level summary of findings, researchers do not have to sacrifice more in-depth analysis. For instance, rapid techniques that facilitate the development of real-time summaries during data collection such as templates developed by our team (called “RREAL sheets”), can be used to guide coding frameworks to analyse transcripts from interviews or notes from observations. RREAL sheets can also be used to help researchers identify areas of focus and plan further analysis around these.

Where can I find out more information?

Cecilia Vindrola-Padros currently co-directs the Rapid Research, Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL) with Dr Ginger Johnson at UCL. RREAL is a collaborative, international and interdisciplinary team that aims to improve the quality and impact of rapid research used to study and evaluate clinical and health service models and interventions for time-sensitive contexts. The lab leads a series of rapid qualitative studies (including recent research on the COVID-19 pandemic), advises on rapid research led by other teams and delivers intensive training for researchers and practitioners interested in developing their own rapid studies. Members of RREAL have published extensively on the use of rapid qualitative research, including two recent books that have been developed as educational resources: Rapid Ethnographies: A Practical Guide (Cambridge University Press) and Doing Rapid Qualitative Research (SAGE).