Saturation was reached
Research methodology and reporting expression
Use this phrase to professionally signal that further investigation will not yield any new or useful information.
En 15 secondes
- You have collected enough data to see a clear, repeating pattern.
- No new information or themes are emerging from your current work.
- It justifies stopping data collection in a professional or academic report.
Signification
This phrase means you have collected enough information that you aren't learning anything new anymore. It is like a sponge that is so full of water it cannot hold another drop.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Writing a formal academic paper
Data collection was terminated once saturation was reached across all primary categories.
We stopped collecting data when we saw the same patterns repeating.
In a high-level business meeting
We've interviewed twenty stakeholders, and it's clear that saturation was reached early on.
We've talked to enough people to know what the problem is.
Texting a colleague about a long project
I've read 500 customer reviews. Saturation was reached at review 50, honestly.
I'm bored because all these reviews say the same thing.
Contexte culturel
The concept originated in 1967 with sociologists Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss. It transformed qualitative research from 'subjective storytelling' into a rigorous, defensible science. In modern corporate culture, it highlights the shift toward 'lean' processes where doing extra work without new value is seen as a waste.
The 'Sponge' Mental Image
If you forget the word, think of a sponge. When it can't hold more water, it's 'saturated.' That's exactly how your data feels!
Don't use it for numbers
Avoid saying this for statistics. If you have 1,000 survey responses, you don't 'reach saturation'—you just have a large sample size.
En 15 secondes
- You have collected enough data to see a clear, repeating pattern.
- No new information or themes are emerging from your current work.
- It justifies stopping data collection in a professional or academic report.
What It Means
Imagine you are interviewing people about their favorite pizza. The first ten people give you exciting, new answers. By the fiftieth person, everyone is saying the exact same thing. You are not gaining new insights. In the world of research, we say saturation was reached. It means your data is full. You have heard it all. There is no need to keep digging because the pattern is clear.
How To Use It
You usually use this in a professional or academic setting. It often appears in the 'Methodology' section of a report. You can say, "We stopped interviewing once saturation was reached." It explains why you stopped working. It shows you were thorough but efficient. You aren't being lazy; you are being scientific. It sounds very smart and authoritative.
When To Use It
Use it when writing a thesis or a business case study. It is perfect for qualitative research like focus groups. You can also use it metaphorically in a meeting. If your team is over-analyzing a simple problem, speak up. Say, "I think saturation was reached ten minutes ago." It is a polite way to say "we are repeating ourselves." It helps move the conversation forward.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this at a party or on a date. If your friend is telling a long story, don't say this. It will sound like you are treating them like a lab rat. Avoid it in quantitative research with hard numbers. You don't "reach saturation" with a calculator. You reach it with ideas and themes. Also, don't use it if you actually need more data!
Cultural Background
This term comes from 'Grounded Theory' in the 1960s. It was a way for researchers to prove their work was valid. Before this, people thought qualitative research was just 'chatting.' This phrase gave it a scientific backbone. It reflects the Western obsession with efficiency and evidence. It suggests that even human conversations have a limit or a 'boiling point.'
Common Variations
You might hear people say data saturation or thematic saturation. Sometimes they say we hit saturation. In casual offices, you might hear we've reached the point of diminishing returns. However, saturation was reached remains the gold standard for formal writing. It is passive, which makes it sound more objective and professional.
Notes d'usage
This is a high-level academic and professional expression. It is almost always used in the passive voice (`was reached`) to maintain an objective tone. Avoid using it in purely social settings unless you are being intentionally ironic.
The 'Sponge' Mental Image
If you forget the word, think of a sponge. When it can't hold more water, it's 'saturated.' That's exactly how your data feels!
Don't use it for numbers
Avoid saying this for statistics. If you have 1,000 survey responses, you don't 'reach saturation'—you just have a large sample size.
The 'Smart' Shortcut
In Western corporate culture, using this phrase makes you sound like an expert in 'Lean' methodology. It's a great way to sound more senior.
Exemples
6Data collection was terminated once saturation was reached across all primary categories.
We stopped collecting data when we saw the same patterns repeating.
This is the classic, most common way to use the phrase.
We've interviewed twenty stakeholders, and it's clear that saturation was reached early on.
We've talked to enough people to know what the problem is.
Used here to suggest the team should stop researching and start acting.
I've read 500 customer reviews. Saturation was reached at review 50, honestly.
I'm bored because all these reviews say the same thing.
A slightly more relaxed, slightly frustrated use of the term.
We didn't conduct more trials because saturation was reached, saving us three weeks of budget.
We stopped because we had the answer, which saved us money.
Highlights the efficiency aspect of the phrase.
Okay, I think saturation was reached on the 'where to eat' debate an hour ago.
We have been talking about food for too long without a decision.
Uses academic language to poke fun at a social stalemate.
I studied the poem until saturation was reached and I could feel every layer of meaning.
I studied it until I couldn't possibly learn anything else from it.
A more personal, intellectual application of the concept.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct word to complete the professional research statement.
The team concluded the focus groups because ___ was reached.
`Saturation` is the specific technical term used to describe the point where no new information is found.
Identify the context where this phrase is most appropriate.
You would most likely find the phrase 'saturation was reached' in a ___.
This is a formal expression used primarily in research methodology and reporting.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Level of 'Saturation was reached'
Talking to friends about a movie.
I've seen enough.
Discussing a task with a coworker.
We've got the gist of it.
Writing a research methodology section.
Saturation was reached.
Legal or highly technical documentation.
It was determined that theoretical saturation had been achieved.
Where to use 'Saturation was reached'
Market Research
Stopping surveys after 100 identical responses.
Academic Thesis
Explaining your interview process in a paper.
Strategy Meeting
Ending a brainstorm that is going in circles.
User Testing
Confirming that all app bugs have been identified.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt means the point where no new information or themes are observed in the data. Think of it as the 'full' point of a container.
While it started in science, it is now common in business, marketing, and UX design. Anyone doing 'qualitative' work uses it.
It sounds very formal. If you use it with friends, it might sound like you are joking or being overly 'academic'.
Yes, it is. In academic writing, the passive voice is often preferred because it sounds more objective than saying I reached saturation.
This is a more specific version used in 'Grounded Theory' research. For most people, just saturation is enough.
There is no fixed number! It depends on the project. Sometimes it happens after 10 interviews, sometimes after 30.
Yes, we hit saturation is a slightly more active and common way to say it in a spoken meeting.
Not exactly. Finished means you stopped. Saturation was reached explains *why* you stopped—because there was nothing left to learn.
Yes, many people use it for charts and numbers. It is better to use it for 'qualitative' things like interviews and observations.
Absolutely. It is a standard term in global English-speaking academic and professional communities.
Expressions liées
Diminishing returns
The point where the level of profits or benefits gained is less than the amount of money or energy invested.
Beating a dead horse
An idiom meaning to waste time on something that is already settled or finished.
Information overload
Being exposed to too much information at once, making it hard to process.
Thematic consistency
When the same themes or ideas appear repeatedly across different sources.
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