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What does "data saturation" mean in the context of thematic analysis, and how would you argue you have reached it in your PhD study?

I need to operationalize this key concept for my examiners.Saying "no new themes emerged" feels insufficient as a defense. What tangible proof or process can I point to in my analysis to substantiate this claim?

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By Amir Answered 5 months ago

Practically, I define saturation not as no new data, but as no new thematic insights that reshape your coding framework. To argue you've reached it, go beyond a simple statement. In my work, I create a saturation log. I track the interview or transcript number where each core theme first appeared and stabilized. I then show my examiners that after, say, interview 12, the last three transcripts only reinforced existing themes without modifying their properties. I would recommend presenting this as a table or figure. This documented, iterative process shows you actively sought disconfirming cases and reached a point of informational redundancy.

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