Abstract:
A median group convened in Johannesburg, South Africa, is described as offering its
members multiple opportunities to reshape their social identities and engage in a process of
social learning. The group was one component of a course in group work. Group analytic
theory positioned the work within a context that was characterised by transition and social
trauma. A richly diverse group composition, which reflected many dimensions of the
interracial macro-society, was an important aspect of the group. The group was researched
using a qualitative, multi-method research design, utilising participant observation, in-depth
interviews and focus groups. These different approaches gave access to the group members’
subjective experiences and meaning-making strategies. The researcher’s engagement with
the research process and her own social reshaping emerged as an important dimension of the
research. In conclusion, some thoughts on working in an interracial median group in a
transformational society are offered.
