Going “Beyond the Surface” in an App-Based Group: A Heuristic Inquiry

Abstract

Six co-researchers conducted a heuristic inquiry of a group experience composed of hundreds of video messages, posted consistently over 4 months, via the Marco Polo smartphone application, to explore the universal implications associated with this uniquely intimate experience. This diverse, artist-led group was composed of five individuals who identify as female and one individual who identifies as non-binary, of African and African American descent, from three states in the United States, with varying levels of income and education. According to the founder, the purpose of the group was to cultivate a space for “wellness through creativity, connection, and collaboration,” primarily for herself, but also for her closest friends. A formal study was necessary to illuminate the salient themes and generate findings from this serendipitous group process. Three themes emerged: (a) the group changed over time, in alignment with long-established theories of group work (i.e., forming, storming, norming, performing, and mourning/adjourning); (b) group members navigated conflict within the group and in dyads outside of the larger group; (c) and members experienced meaningful benefits and impacts as a result of participation, which supports the growing research on online mental health support groups. Implications for future research, training, and practice are provided.