What Influences Saturation? Estimating Sample Sizes in Focus Group Research

Saturation is commonly used to determine sample sizes in qualitative research, yet there is little guidance on what influences saturation. We aimed to assess saturation and identify parameters to estimate sample sizes for focus group studies in advance of data collection. We used two approaches to a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Qualitative health research Vol. 29; no. 10; p. 1483
Main Authors: Hennink, Monique M, Kaiser, Bonnie N, Weber, Mary Beth
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 01.08.2019
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Clinical Coding - methods
Female
Focus Groups - methods
Humans
Male
Qualitative Research
Sample Size
Young Adult
saturation
USA
qualitative
focus group discussions
qualitative research
diabetes
sample size
methodology
ISSN:1049-7323
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:Saturation is commonly used to determine sample sizes in qualitative research, yet there is little guidance on what influences saturation. We aimed to assess saturation and identify parameters to estimate sample sizes for focus group studies in advance of data collection. We used two approaches to assess saturation in data from 10 focus group discussions. Four focus groups were sufficient to identify a range of new issues (code saturation), but more groups were needed to fully understand these issues (meaning saturation). Group stratification influenced meaning saturation, whereby one focus group per stratum was needed to identify issues; two groups per stratum provided a more comprehensive understanding of issues, but more groups per stratum provided little additional benefit. We identify six parameters influencing saturation in focus group data: study purpose, type of codes, group stratification, number of groups per stratum, and type and degree of saturation.
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ISSN:1049-7323
DOI:10.1177/1049732318821692