MEANING
The point in grounded theory when further theoretical sampling yields no new properties of a developing category.
Use it for
Use in qualitative theory-building when further sampling adds no new category properties.Name a stopping rationale based on fully developing theoretical categories.
Words that belong together
- theoretical saturation in grounded theory
- reach theoretical saturation
- assess category saturation
On the page
The researchers stopped theoretical sampling only after new interviews added no properties to the central category.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- theoretical saturation
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Usage notes
The term is most closely associated with grounded theory and category development; it is not simply a universal sample-size rule or a synonym for any data exhaustion.
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