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Academic English & Research vocabulary · Research Design

Theoretical saturation

Meaning in academic english & research, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In academic english & research, theoretical saturation means: The point where further data no longer develop the properties and relationships of an emerging theory.

In Turkish: kuramsal doygunluk

How it is used

Explain category development, not just repeated words in interviews.

Example sentences

  1. We had repeated themes but had not reached theoretical saturation for the central category.

    Repetition alone does not establish theoretical completeness.

  2. The team sought contrasting cases before claiming theoretical saturation.

    Challenging cases can reveal undeveloped relationships.

Common collocations

  • reach theoretical saturation
  • assess theoretical saturation
  • theoretical frameworkThe theory or set of connected theories that a study uses to explain its problem, shape its questions and interpret its findings.
  • qualitativeDescribing research that studies experiences, meanings and behavior through words, images or observation rather than numbers, often with smaller groups of people.

More terms: Research Design

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