Summation, Saliency, and Saturation (3S): a continuum for a practical approach to assessing sample adequacy and analytic completeness in qualitative implementation research

In implementation research, saturation as an analytic benchmark is seldom explained and difficult to attain. We propose a practical approach for reconceptualizing saturation as part of a larger continuum for assessing sample adequacy and analytic completeness. We aim to help implementation researchers navigate decisions about qualitative sample adequacy and analytic completeness in pragmatic and transparent ways.