Naturalistic inquiry and the saturation concept: a research note

By Glenn A. Bowen. 2008

2,786 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Saturation is mentioned in many qualitative research reports without any explanation of what it means and how it occurred. Recognizing the saturation point presents a challenge to qualitative researchers, especially in the absence of explicit guidelines for determining data or theoretical saturation. This research note examines the saturation concept in naturalistic inquiry and the challenges it presents. In particular, it summarizes the saturation process in a grounded theory study of community-based antipoverty projects. The main argument advanced in this research note is that claims of saturation should be supported by an explanation of how saturation was achieved and substantiated by clear evidence of its occurrence.

Subfields: Education, Management Science and Operations Research

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/7d23acb4a316b3d29df1eb1bfd8db50d2e857e4d

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Citations in the corpus

Using conceptual depth criteria: addressing the challenge of reaching saturation in qualitative research (2017, background): “This proved to be a reasonable and appropriate choice and not remote from what others have recommended (Bowen, 2006, 2008).”
Saturation controversy in qualitative research: Complexities and underlying assumptions. A literature review (2020, background): “Thirdly, by the fact that “the concept is nebulous and lacks systematization” (Bowen, 2008, p. 139).”
What Influences Saturation? Estimating Sample Sizes in Focus Group Research (2019, neutral): “…claiming to have reached saturation in qualitative studies without providing adequate explanation or justification on how saturation was assessed or achieved (Bowen, 2008; Guest et al., 2006; Hennink, Kaiser, & Marconi, 2017; Malterud, Siersma, & Guassora, 2016; Morse, 1995, 2000, 2015).”
Transparency and replicability in qualitative research: The case of interviews with elite informants (2019, background): “The saturation point occurs when there are no new insights or themes in the process of collecting data and drawing conclusions (Bowen, 2008; Strauss & Corbin, 1998).”
‘It was Hard, But it was Good’: a qualitative exploration of stress-related growth in Division I intercollegiate athletes (2012, methodology): “Criteria adapted from Bowen ( 2008 ) were used to decide whether a category was adequately saturated.”
The Relationship between Organizational Stressors and Athlete Burnout in Soccer Players (2012, background): “Consequently, new themes failed to emerge from the analysis and it was deemed that both theoretical and data saturation had occurred (Biddle, Markland, Gilbourne, Chatzisarantis, & Sparkes, 2001; Bowen, 2008).”
Does Sample Size Matter in Qualitative Research?: A Review of Qualitative Interviews in is Research (2013, background): “In other words, saturation is reached when the researcher gathers data to the point of diminishing returns, when nothing new is being added” [2, 22].”
I'd like to Teach the World to Sing: Music and Conflict Transformation (2007, background): “113-114), and new data no longer reveal any new insights, however, this is probably an issue of experience and trial and error rather than a fixed point to aim for (Allan 2003) which may be the reason that the saturation point is often referred to but rarely defined (Bowen 2008).”
Food Waste Paradox: Antecedents of Food Disposal in Low-Income Households (2015, background): “Data redundancy indicates the point of diminishing returns, or when nothing new is being added (Bowen, 2008).”
Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method (2009, background): “Hence, I identified similarities, differences, and general patterns (Bowen, 2008, p. 144).”
A Qualitative Study of Performance Leadership and Management in Elite Sport (2011, background): “Consequently, new themes failed to emerge from the analysis and it was deemed that both theoretical and data saturation had occurred (Biddle, Markland, Gilbourne, Chatzisarantis, & Sparkes, 2001; Bowen, 2008).”
Practice as the Site of Knowing: Insights from the Field of Telemedicine (2011, background): “Using “hunches” and insights from the literature, I returned repeatedly to the data until I obtained “theoretical saturation,” that is, the sense that theory and data fell into place and that, together, they provided a sound and robust argument (Bowen 2008).”
An Examination of the Sufficiency of Small Qualitative Samples (2018, background): “Although researchers often cite having achieved saturation as a reason to conclude sampling, details regarding how saturation was determined are not provided for the most part (Bowen, 2008; Francis et al., 2010). Gentles and colleagues (2015) conducted an overview of the literature from influential ”
Code Saturation Versus Meaning Saturation: How Many Interviews Are Enough? (2016, background): “There is increasing concern over researchers claiming saturation without providing any justification or explanation of how it was assessed or the grounds on which it was achieved (Bowen, 2008; Green & Thorgood, 2009; Guest, Bunce, & Johnson, 2006; Kerr et al., 2010; Malterud et al., 2015; Morse, 199”