What is an adequate sample size? Operationalising data saturation for theory-based interview studies
Open accessAbstract
In interview studies, sample size is often justified by interviewing participants until reaching 'data saturation'. However, there is no agreed method of establishing this. We propose principles for deciding saturation in theory-based interview studies (where conceptual categories are pre-established by existing theory). First, specify a minimum sample size for initial analysis (initial analysis sample). Second, specify how many more interviews will be conducted without new ideas emerging (stopping criterion). We demonstrate these principles in two studies, based on the theory of planned behaviour, designed to identify three belief categories (Behavioural, Normative and Control), using an initial analysis sample of 10 and stopping criterion of 3. Study 1 (retrospective analysis of existing data) identified 84 shared beliefs of 14 general medical practitioners about managing patients with sore throat without prescribing antibiotics. The criterion for saturation was achieved for Normative beliefs but not for other beliefs or studywise saturation. In Study 2 (prospective analysis), 17 relatives of people with Paget's disease of the bone reported 44 shared beliefs about taking genetic testing. Studywise data saturation was achieved at interview 17. We propose specification of these principles for reporting data saturation in theory-based interview studies. The principles may be adaptable for other types of studies.
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Recruitment continued until data saturation occurred, when no new information was being obtained across three consecutive interviews.
“Recruitment continued until data saturation occurred, when no new information was being obtained across three consecutive interviews [34, 35].”
Final sampling follows theoretical data saturation principles.
“However, final sampling follows theoretical data saturation principles (100, 101).”
The two references used by ChatGPT to justify thematic saturation were an editorial in Qualitative Health Research (Morse, 1995) and an empirical study in Psychology and Health (Francis et al., 2010).
“The other two references (both high cited) used to justify thematic saturation comprised an editorial in Qualitative Health Research (Morse, 1995) and an empirical study in Psychology and Health (Francis et al., 2010).”
From Human resource management in the age of generative artificial intelligence: Perspectives and research directions on ChatGPT (2023) · cites this paper as Francis et al., 2010
An initial sample of eight schools (four from each programme) was deemed sufficient to provide adequate sample size to achieve data saturation and to be feasible within the timelines and resources for the study.
“From discussion with the above stakeholders and guided by the literature [32] an initial sample of eight schools, four from each programme was deemed sufficient to provide adequate sample size to achieve data saturation, and to be feasible within the timelines and resources for the study.”
From Barriers, facilitators and capacities for childhood obesity prevention in 12 European nations: results of a policy-maker survey (2018) · cites this paper as [32]
Data saturation was reached following completion of interviews within the initial sample of six primary schools with no new themes emerging.
“Data saturation was reached following completion of interviews within the initial sample of six primary schools with no new themes emerging [32].”
From Barriers, facilitators and capacities for childhood obesity prevention in 12 European nations: results of a policy-maker survey (2018) · cites this paper as [32]
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- Authors
- Francis, J. J., Johnston, M., Robertson, C., Glidewell, L., Entwistle, V., Eccles, M. P., & Grimshaw, J. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Aberdeen (GB)
- University of Dundee (GB)
- Newcastle University (GB)
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Francis, Jill J.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychology & Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2010-12
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1229-1245
- ISSN
- 0887-0446 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-8321
- OpenAlex
- W1971765404
- Cited by
- 3,429
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 343 · 2025: 405 · 2024: 444 · 2023: 333 · 2022: 332 · 2021: 359 · 2020: 219 · 2019: 215 · 2018: 187 · 2017: 159 · 2016: 147 · 2015: 116 · 2014: 72 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 56.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- Psychology and Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- City Research Online (City University London) (acceptedVersion)
- Aberdeen University Research Archive (Aberdeen University) (submittedVersion)
- Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (submittedVersion)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
- Funders
- Scottish Government
- Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Keywords
- data saturation, sample size determination, qualitative research reporting, stopping rules, theory of planned behavior, shared beliefs, general practitioners, Paget's disease, genetic testing, relatives
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Attitude of Health Personnel, Culture, Data Collection, England, Female, Genetic Testing, Humans, Interview, Psychological, Male, Osteitis Deformans, Pharyngitis, Psychometrics, Scotland, Observer Variation, Sample Size, Biomedical Research, General Practice
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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
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