Naturalistic inquiry and the saturation concept: a research note

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.

[1]  A. Strauss,et al.  The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research aldine de gruyter , 1968 .

[2]  C. Geertz.  Thick Description: Towards an Interpretive Theory of Culture , 1973 .

[3]  B. Glaser.  Theoretical Sensitivity: Advances in the Methodology of Grounded Theory , 1978 .

[4]  P. Stern.  Grounded theory methodology: its uses and processes. , 1980, Image.

[5]  E. Guba,et al.  Naturalistic inquiry: Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1985, 416 pp., $25.00 (Cloth) , 1985 .

[6]  A. Strauss,et al.  Grounded theory , 2017 .

[7]  M. Patton,et al.  Qualitative evaluation and research methods , 1992 .

[8]  C. Vassy,et al.  [The awareness of dying]. , 1993, Soins; la revue de reference infirmiere.

[9]  Pamela Jordan.  Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques , 1994 .

[10]  A. Strauss,et al.  Grounded theory methodology: An overview. , 1994 .

[11]  J. Morse.  The Significance of Saturation , 1995 .

[12]  D. Padgett.  Qualitative Methods in Social Work Research: Challenges and Rewards , 1998 .

[13]  유창조.  Naturalistic Inquiry , 2022, The SAGE Encyclopedia of Research Design.

[14]  Norman W. H. Blaikie,et al.  Designing Social Research: The Logic of Anticipation , 2000 .

[15]  J. Morse,et al.  Verification Strategies for Establishing Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research , 2002 .

[16]  B. Glaser.  Constructivist Grounded Theory , 2002 .

[17]  Glenn A. Bowen.  Social funds as a strategy for poverty reduction in Jamaica : an exploratory study , 2003 .

[18]  K. Caelli,et al.  ‘Clear as Mud’: Toward Greater Clarity in Generic Qualitative Research , 2003 .

[19]  C. Hyde.  Multicultural Organizational Development in Nonprofit Human Service Agencies , 2003 .

[20]  Glenn A. Bowen.  Local-Level Stakeholder Collaboration: A Substantive Theory of Community-Driven Development , 2005 .