Using the Medical Group as a Research Facilitating Tool in an Economics College

Abstract

The learning group in regional economics works in a similar way to the Balint medical group. During a session, a ‘problem’ is presented by a group member, in the context of a rotation or ‘turn taking’. The other members do not try to ‘solve the problem’ by adding technical information or giving ‘advice’ to the presenter. Instead, they explore its meaning by treating the issue as if it were their own problem, revealing in a loud voice their free associations with the topic initially presented. This kind of reflection helps the presenter because it forces him or her to ‘think further’ about the issue, overriding the trend to solve the problem in an automatic, pseudo-intuitive way.