Qualitative Health Research· 2016Q1
Code Saturation Versus Meaning Saturation
- 4,260citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2016year
Short summary
Meaning saturation, requiring 16-24 interviews, was achieved later than code saturation (9 interviews) in qualitative research, indicating a richer understanding is needed beyond identifying thematic issues.
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Key points
- Code saturation was achieved at 9 interviews, identifying the range of thematic issues.
- Meaning saturation, requiring a richly textured understanding, was reached between 16 and 24 interviews.
- Code saturation indicates 'hearing it all,' while meaning saturation is necessary for 'understanding it all.'
- Parameters were developed to influence saturation and estimate sample sizes for qualitative research.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Saturation is a core guiding principle to determine sample sizes in qualitative research, yet little methodological research exists on parameters that influence saturation. Our study compared two approaches to assessing saturation: code saturation and meaning saturation. We examined sample sizes needed to reach saturation in each approach, what saturation meant, and how to assess saturation. Examining 25 in-depth interviews, we found that code saturation was reached at nine interviews, whereby the range of thematic issues was identified. However, 16 to 24 interviews were needed to reach meaning saturation where we developed a richly textured understanding of issues. Thus, code saturation may indicate when researchers have "heard it all," but meaning saturation is needed to "understand it all." We used our results to develop parameters that influence saturation, which may be used to estimate sample sizes for qualitative research proposals or to document in publications the grounds on which saturation was achieved.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Qualitative Health Research, 2016 · DOI ↗
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Field: Sociology and Political Science
Sociology and Political ScienceSocial Sciences