Saturation in qualitative research: an evolutionary concept analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background and Aim: Qualitative research plays an important role in improving nursing knowledge. Understanding the concept of saturation is essential to conducting rigorous qualitative research that contributes to evidence-based practice. The purpose of this study is to clarify the concept of saturation in qualitative research. Method: Evolutionary concept analysis was performed. A literature search was conducted using a variety of online databases for the years 2005- 2023. In total, 33 articles and books were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify the attributes, antecedents and consequences of saturation. The validity of the data was obtained by examining the analysis process by two independent researchers. Results: Saturation in qualitative research is a context-dependent, subjective process that requires detailed systematic analysis. Saturation is used in four ways in qualitative research: theoretical saturation, data saturation, code or thematic saturation, and meaning saturation. The antecedents of saturation were classified into two categories: study related factors and researcher related factors. The consequences of saturation were identified as: ensuring credibility and quality in qualitative research and time, energy and budget saving. Conclusion: This concept analysis serves to enhance the understanding of the concept of saturation, thereby offering valuable resources for qualitative researchers. By gaining a profound comprehension of saturation and its various types, researchers can ensure the validity of their studies while also optimizing time and resource allocation by avoiding redundant data collection. Future investigation warranted to elucidate how factors associated with reaching saturation impact estimations sample size.
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The number of participating services was determined by theoretical saturation from qualitative analyses, with data collection concluded when information became redundant or repeated.
“The number of participating services in the research was determined by theoretical saturation from the qualitative analyses (25) in which the data collection was concluded when the information started to become redundant or repeated, even with the inclusion of new participants and services, as detected through a floating reading of the transcripts of the conducted interviews and fields diaries.”
From A mindfulness-based intervention for Substance Use Disorder in a Brazilian vulnerable population: a feasibility mixed method study (2024) · cites this paper as [25]
The Results and Discussion section on theoretical saturation describes using iterative sampling and analysis until further data add no theoretical insight; the section on information redundancy describes repetitive data as related to saturation. The paper does not report how the citing study determined its number of participating services or assessed its interview transcripts and field diaries. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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“Thematic saturation was achieved with the planned number of participants across categories [35,36].”
Revisiting Small‐Scale Aquaculture ( SSA )
Castillo, L. S., Froehlich, H. E., Wilson, J. R., Gephart, J. A., Aceves‐Bueno, E., & Gaines, S. D. (2025) · Reviews in Aquaculture · doi:10.1111/raq.70110 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Zhong, J., Zhao, W., & Lai, X. B. (2025) · BMC Palliative Care · doi:10.1186/s12904-025-01924-x · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“However, theoretical saturation [32] may require a larger sample size to fully understand the complex phenomenon of end-of-life communication in contexts of Chinese cultural and social norms.”
Engaging HR managers with the sustainable development goals: toward common-good HRM
Piwowar‐Sulej, K. (2026) · Personnel Review · doi:10.1108/pr-12-2024-1075 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Mapping Multisensory Migration Research
Nikielska-Sekuła, K. (2025) · Ethnic and Racial Studies · doi:10.1080/01419870.2025.2562651 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“This sample size proved sufficient, as subsequent results largely duplicated previously selected sources, indicating saturation (Rahimi and Khatooni 2024).”
Stamos, G., & Kotsopoulos, D. (2024) · Administrative Sciences · doi:10.3390/admsci14020035 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Liu, M., Buzzanell, P. M., Li, Y., & Zhou, S. (2024) · Health Communication · doi:10.1080/10410236.2024.2434070 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“…collected and analyzed data until our research questions were sufficiently answered by the recurring themes, and no new themes, tensions, or relationships among themes emerged with our 13 participants, indicating that we have reached saturation (Lincoln & Guba, 1985; Rahimi & Khatooni, 2024).”
Patient and family member experience of hospital readmission following critical illness
McPeake, J. M., MacTavish, P., Puxty, K. A., Crook, C., & Quasim, T. (2024) · Intensive and Critical Care Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.iccn.2024.103890 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Understanding the use of sedation boluses in the intensive care unit: A mixed methods study
Vincelette, C., Carrier, F. M., Bilodeau, C., & Chassé, M. (2025) · Intensive and Critical Care Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.iccn.2025.103958 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
The impact of forced electricity rationing on shopping and media consumption
Lappeman, J., Dlamini, S., Zulu, N., Wahl, K., & Cheteni, P. (2025) · International Journal of Emerging Markets · doi:10.1108/ijoem-04-2024-0739 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Heydarikhayat, N., Ghanbarzehi, N., Darban, F., Kashani, Z. A., & Rohani, C. (2024) · SAGE Open Nursing · doi:10.1177/23779608241286308 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Resistance intention and its drivers in night market visit failure
Xu, J. B., & Yan, L. (2025) · Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights · doi:10.1108/jhti-03-2025-0346 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Pope, K. L., Paveglio, T. B., & Edgeley, C. M. (2025) · International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction · doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105678 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Ibrahim, M. M., Abdul-Rahaman, F., Sayibu, M. S., Alhassan, D. N., Awudu, R. T., Sisala, I. M., Wuni, A., & Abdulai, A.-M. (2025) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-025-13384-3 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Meaning saturation was confirmed when additional interviews failed to produce new insights, depth, or variations in participants’ interpretations of previously identified themes [45, 46].”
DeBusschere, A., Lunney, M., Reid, S., Verdin, N., Love, S., Thompson, S., Nicholas, D. B., Boulton, T., Schick‐Makaroff, K., Jenstad, L. M., et al. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0333587 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“To achieve demographic saturation, we reviewed the demographic characteristics of our participants following completion of the focus groups and purposively recruited additional people for individual interviews if key demographic gaps were found [23,24].”
Bjerregaard, M., Axelin, A., Poulsen, I., & Brødsgaard, A. (2025) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-105199 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Mazumder, M. M. M., & Hossain, D. M. (2025) · Pacific Accounting Review · doi:10.1108/par-11-2024-0316 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Robson, Z. M., Gozho, C. S., & Muzingili, T. (2024) · Cogent Social Sciences · doi:10.1080/23311886.2024.2415527 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“While this was large for qualitative data due to data saturation (rahimi & Khatooni, 2024), researchers agreed to maintain the sample size in case of further sample attrition during the data collection process.”
Carew, C., Rak, A., Tuckerman, J., Pidd, D., Vasiliadis, S. D., Danchin, M. H., & Kaufman, J. (2025) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2025.104402 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Ollerenshaw, A., Robinson, N. J., Chadha, A. S., & Channon, J. (2024) · Smart Agricultural Technology · doi:10.1016/j.atech.2024.100610 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Richardson, S. J., McRobert, A. P., Vinson, D., Cronin, C., Lee, C. S., & Roberts, S. J. (2024) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2024.2429566 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“To address potential issues of saturation, particularly given the study’s small sample size, a triangulation of methods was employed to ensure a rich and comprehensive dataset that could effectively address the research question (Mthuli et al., 2022; Rahimi, 2024).”
A thematic analysis of newly qualified doctors’ experiences of burnout
Kilday, C. R. (2025) · BMC Medical Education · doi:10.1186/s12909-025-07076-z · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Place-Based Impact: Accelerating Agri-Technology Adoption in an Evolving ‘Place’
Manning, L., & Grant, J. H. (2025) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su17125292 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Middleton, N. J., Anastasas, K., White, J., Pienaar, C. A., Harvey, J., Bale, T., Wakeling, T., McCarthy, B., Blyth, C. C., Gill, F. J., et al. (2025) · Pediatric Critical Care Medicine · doi:10.1097/pcc.0000000000003770 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Schettini, G., Lindner, P., Ekström, V., & Johansson, M. (2024) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-024-11304-5 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“However, thematic saturation [40] was achieved (i.e. no new information between the codes emerged) after 17 interviews, where n = 8 had a problematic use of alcohol, n = 5 of cannabis, and n = 4 of gambling.”
BackgroundMachado, M. P. A., Opaleye, E. S., Bedendo, A., Bowen, S., & Noto, A. R. (2024) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1381489 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“The number of participating services in the research was determined by theoretical saturation from the qualitative analyses (25) in which the data collection was concluded when the information started to become redundant or repeated, even with the inclusion of new participants and services, as…”
Stubbs, M. A., Sunner, C., Gaviola, M. A., Popoola, T., & Reis, J. (2025) · Death Studies · doi:10.1080/07481187.2025.2513995 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Saturation occurs when no new insights or themes emerge with the addition of further participants (Rahimi & Khatooni, 2024).”
The moral labour of food purchase decision-making – an ethnographic study among families in Denmark
Duus, K. S., Tjørnhøj‐Thomsen, T., & Krølner, R. F. (2025) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2025.108234 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Study strengths include the large number of participants, yielding a rich data foundation and data saturation (Hennink & Kaiser, 2022; Rahimi & khatooni, 2024).”
Moral distress among family caregivers of people with cancer in palliative care: A qualitative study
Rozo, A., Schneiders, M., Palombit, M. R., Sinski, K. C., do Carmo, R. L. M. L., Garcia, A., Araújo, J. S., Bitencourt, J. V. D. O. V., Dantas, R. A. S., & da Conceição, V. M. (2025) · Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal · doi:10.5737/23688076352361 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Karnopp, J. R., & Björklund, P. (2025) · Journal of Educational Administration · doi:10.1108/jea-12-2024-0416 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Kanık, Z. B., Erişkan, S., Soysal, M., & Ömürgönülşen, M. (2025) · OPSEARCH · doi:10.1007/s12597-025-01017-6 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Barry, K., Fadem, S. J., Hemler, J. R., Howard, J., Mikesell, L., O’Malley, D. M., Hudson, S. V., & Crabtree, B. F. (2025) · Health Expectations · doi:10.1111/hex.70458 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Following the analysis meeting for our ninth interview, we determined that the emergent themes were sufficiently robust, and no additional major themes were likely to be identified and thus reached saturation [27].”
Oh, J., Kang, H., Jin, E., Yang, T., Banu, N., & Zhuo, S. (2025) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/14614448251378019 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Thus, we concluded that both code and content (meaning) saturation (Hennink et al., 2017; Rahimi, 2024) had been achieved with 17 interviews.”
Lin, D., Eaves, D. L., Gibbons, T., Aquino, M. R. J., Edwards, M., Poliakoff, E., Bek, J., & Emerson, J. R. (2025) · Neuropsychological Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/09602011.2025.2577376 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“This methodology ensured that the data collected was comprehensive and reflective of the participants’ experiences and perspectives (Rahimi & Khatooni, 2024).”
Challinor, A., Berzins, K. M., Bifarin, O. O., Anderson, N., Xavier, P., Saini, P., Morasae, E. K., & Nathan, R. (2025) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-104863 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Sohail, F. A., Iqbal, M., Malik, M. G. R., & Saeed, S. (2025) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-103139 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Jo, E., & Bae, K. R. (2025) · Current Oncology · doi:10.3390/curroncol32120687 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Theoretical saturation was confirmed when no new conceptual insights emerged, consistent with recent methodological guidance [26].”
Webb, S., Ali, N. M., Augustin, Y. S., Hayward, S. E., Deal, A., Crawshaw, A. F., Staines, H. M., Hayes, K., Hargreaves, S., & Krishna, S. (2026) · BMJ Public Health · doi:10.1136/bmjph-2025-003254 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“The project aims and strategies for recruitment were discussed, and the proposed interview topic guide (online supplemental information S1) was discussed and circulated, and feed-back collected to ensure that it was sensitive to our target population and relevant to the study.”
Ly, A., Dimitropoulos, G., McArthur, B. A., Watt, J., Cullen, E., & Madigan, S. L. (2026) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-026-26248-0 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Additionally, during this stage, AL and JW discussed saturation of codes and themes, noting that there was a consistent repetition of codes and no new themes were emerging [69].”
Expanded Roles and Competency Gaps of Emergency and ICU Nurses During Armed Conflict in Gaza
Abuqamar, M., Alkhatib, A. H., & Dilles, T. (2026) · International Nursing Review · doi:10.1111/inr.70165 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Flanagan, S., Spurway, C., Jackson, L., Cooper, J. M., Crowe, F. L., Haroon, S. M., Marshall, T., Fitzsimmons, L., Hathaway, E., Nirantharakumar, K., et al. (2026) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/87507 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached and no new themes were identified [20].”
A scheduling perspective on modular educational systems in Europe
Ruiz-Torrubiano, R., Knopp, S., Krystallidis, A., & Wolf, L. M. (2024) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39694 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“In general, theoretical saturation was achieved at the interviews, since no additional insights emerged from them, and the conceptual categories were explored in detail and are complete [27,28].”
Taks, N. J. L. M., van Rossum, T. R., Warris, L. T., Reurslag, E. C., & Sadrzadeh, S. (2024) · BMC Medical Education · doi:10.1186/s12909-024-06431-w · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Data collection ended when thematic saturation was reached, defined as the point at which no new codes or themes emerged from the data [20].”
Maqbali, M. A. H. A. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-78298-5_3 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Saretta, M., Alhambra‐Borrás, T., Doñate-Martínez, A., & Ferrer, J. G. (2024) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117649 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Fountouli, A., Raptou, E., Polymeros, K., Tsakiridou, E., & Varzakas, T. H. (2025) · Foods · doi:10.3390/foods14060929 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“However, a larger number of participants may help researchers better depict behavioural patterns by exploring a greater variety of perceptions and experiences, and also augment the possibilities of accomplishing data saturation [83–86].”
Navigating Life With High‐Grade Glioma: Experiences and Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults
Devaraja, K., Daniels, M., Tsang, D. S., Edelstein, K., Bennett, J., Kanter, C., Mason, W. P., Gupta, A. A., & Avery, J. (2025) · Cancer Medicine · doi:10.1002/cam4.70867 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Lived Experience of Men with Prostate Cancer in Ireland: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
Mumuni, S., O’Donnell, C., & Doody, O. (2025) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare13091049 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“A total of 11 men participated, with the sample size determined based on the saturation principles (theoretical, data, code/theme and meaning) outlined by Rahimi [31].”
SMMEs’ business mindset on tax compliance in North West: Perceptions and challenges
Myburg, J., & Schutte, D. (2025) · The Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management · doi:10.4102/sajesbm.v17i1.1085 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Chen, W., Chung, J. O. K., Lam, K. K. W., & Molassiotis, A. (2025) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/jan.70064 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
‘Being a Good Parent’ for Seriously Ill Children in Brazil: A Qualitative Semantic Analysis
Silva‐Rodrigues, F. M., Hinds, P. S., dos Santos, M. R., da Silva, L. T. P., & Bousso, R. S. (2025) · Nursing in Critical Care · doi:10.1111/nicc.70149 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Saturation was confirmed when the dataset was sufficiently extensive to capture the full range of parental perspectives [16, 20].”
An exploratory study on a comprehensive set of criteria for facade assessment
Zekri, A., Tarkashvand, A., & Ekhlassi, A. (2024) · Construction Innovation · doi:10.1108/ci-01-2024-0027 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
- Authors
- Rahimi, S., & khatooni, M.
- Affiliations
- Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Corresponding author
- Rahimi, Sara
- Venue
- International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-06
- Volume
- 6
- Pages
- 100174
- ISSN
- 2666-142X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC11080421
- OpenAlex
- W4390604507
- Cited by
- 560
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 273 · 2025: 236 · 2024: 51
- FWCI
- 704.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Qazvin University of Medical Sciences
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods
- Keywords
- saturation, qualitative research, data saturation, theoretical saturation, research credibility, sample size determination, nursing research
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