Theoretical saturation

The theoretical saturation is a term used in qualitative social research , special from the grounded theory . This research approach uses the so-called comparative analysis for theorization, which is limited with the theoretical saturation. "The grounded theory assumes that the stable core of the central concept is increasingly consolidated and condensed by drawing on and comparing further homogeneous cases". The criterion proposed in Grounded Theory for canceling this comparison mode is the so-called theoretical saturation . This therefore determines when sampling (per category) can be stopped.

saturation

The concept of saturation is defined as theoretical saturation in the context of grounded theory. In qualitative research, data saturation, thematic saturation, theoretical saturation, and conceptual saturation can be used equivalently. Saturation can be equated with data satisfaction.

Reaching saturation

Theoretical saturation is achieved by collecting and analyzing the data in parallel. A category is considered saturated if the researchers have reached the point of data analysis at which the inclusion of additional material cannot produce any new properties of a category. The idea of the criterion of theoretical saturation is therefore to determine from which point in time the examples for a concept or a category in the material are repeated. Only after this saturation has been reached are further steps such as a quantitative survey useful in order to determine parameters such as the effect size .

Conceptual representativeness

Breaking off the analysis at the point of theoretical saturation makes sense for grounded theory precisely because it is not about statistical representativeness, but about the most comprehensive and sufficiently detailed development of the properties of theoretical concepts and categories. Strübing calls this conceptual representativeness.

Legitimation requirements

The fact that the application of the criterion of theoretical saturation requires interpretation and cannot be objectively derived from the data places increased legitimacy requirements on researchers. A comprehensive justification is necessary on the basis of which data a category can be considered empirically sufficiently saturated and how extensive the statements are that can then be made with this category.

literature

Barney G. Glaser; Anselm L. Strauss: "The discovery of object-related theory: A basic strategy of qualitative social research", in: Hopf / Weingarten: Qualitative social research (1979).
Barney G. Glaser: Theoretical Sensitivity. Advances in the Methodology of Grounded Theory (1978).
Anselm L. Strauss; Juliet Corbin: Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. (1990)
Anselm L. Strauss: Fundamentals of qualitative social research. Data analysis and theory building in empirical and sociological research. (1991)
Anselm L. Strauss; Juliet Corbin: Basics of Qualitative Research (1990), German as Grounded Theory: Basics of Qualitative Social Research (1996)
Jörg Strübing: Grounded Theory . VS Verlag, Wiesbaden 2004.

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b Jörg Strübing: Grounded Theory: Methodical and methodological foundations . Ed .: Christian Pentzold , Andres Bischof, Tele Heise. 1st edition. Springer VS, Wiesbaden 2018, ISBN 978-3-658-15998-6 , pp. 27-52 .
^ Theoretical sampling . In: Wikipedia . March 25, 2020 ( wikipedia.org [accessed April 18, 2020]).
^ Barney G. Glaser, Anselm L. Strauss: Grounded Theory. Qualitative Research Strategies . 3. Edition. Verlag Hans Huber, Bern 2010, ISBN 978-3-456-84906-5 .
↑ ^a ^b Jörg Strübing: Grounded Theory. For the social-theoretical and epistomological foundation of a pragmatic research style . In: Qualitative Social Research . 3. Edition. Springer VS, Tübingen 2014, ISBN 978-3-531-19896-5 .

[:0-1] Jörg Strübing: Grounded Theory: Methodical and methodological foundations . Ed .: Christian Pentzold , Andres Bischof, Tele Heise. 1st edition. Springer VS, Wiesbaden 2018, ISBN 978-3-658-15998-6 , pp. 27-52 .

[2] Theoretical sampling . In: Wikipedia . March 25, 2020 ( wikipedia.org [accessed April 18, 2020]).

[3] Barney G. Glaser, Anselm L. Strauss: Grounded Theory. Qualitative Research Strategies . 3. Edition. Verlag Hans Huber, Bern 2010, ISBN 978-3-456-84906-5 .

[:1-4] Jörg Strübing: Grounded Theory. For the social-theoretical and epistomological foundation of a pragmatic research style . In: Qualitative Social Research . 3. Edition. Springer VS, Tübingen 2014, ISBN 978-3-531-19896-5 .