Defining, assessing, and reporting saturation in qualitative research: Review and recommendations

Abstract

Saturation is a central concept in qualitative research, generally referring to the point at which new data collection no longer yields additional insights. Despite its critical role and widespread application, saturation remains a vague and ill-defined concept with limited practical guidance, manifesting in definitional, methodological, and epistemological contradictions across studies and disciplines. Ambiguity in defining, assessing, and reporting saturation affects a study’s trustworthiness and has detrimental implications for theory development and testing. Moreover, inadequate saturation practices can result in premature cessation of data collection, incomplete theoretical frameworks, and potentially flawed conclusions about leader–follower dynamics and many other phenomena. In addition, when studies lack transparency about saturation, subsequent research can inherit and perpetuate these methodological limitations. To address these challenges, we reviewed 429 sources on saturation and offer a framework: A systematic three-step process for defining, assessing, and providing evidence of saturation with eight critical decision points. We operationalize this framework through actionable, best-practice recommendations, composed of structured questions and corresponding actions, enabling researchers to systematically define, assess, and report saturation in ways that align with their philosophical perspectives, research objectives, methodological choices, and contexts. Through this framework, we advance research in leadership and other domains by strengthening saturation practices necessary for theory development, enhancing our understanding of leadership processes and contexts, and facilitating trustworthy theory development and testing.