Final answer:
Theoretical saturation occurs in qualitative research when gathering more data does not yield new insights into a concept, signaling that the existing framework is well-developed and no further data collection is required for the purpose of understanding the phenomena under study.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "theoretical saturation" refers to the point in qualitative research where additional data collection no longer contributes to discovering new insights related to a concept under study. It is the point at which a concept is so well developed that no new themes, explanations, or understandings emerge from the data. This concept is critical in the field of sociology and is applicable to various forms of social research. During this stage, the researcher recognizes that the data collected have provided a comprehensive understanding of the phenomena being studied, which allows for the development of a well-supported theory. This does not suggest that the theory is final but rather that it is sufficiently developed to explain the observed data. Theoretical saturation is achieved when the addition of more data seems to add no further understanding to the existing conceptual framework.