"Exploring Autistic Girls and Friendship: A Meta-Ethnography" Video Created by GSEHD Faculty/Alumnus


September 9, 2025

screenshot from video of Dr. Elizabeth Rice introducing herself

Dr. Elisabeth Rice, Associate Professor of Special Education, and GSEHD alumnus Dr. Adam Berman (EdD, Special Education and Disability Studies), were recently featured in Sage Research Methods Videos: Research Design and Planning. Their video, "Exploring Autistic Girls and Friendship: A Meta-Ethnography," highlights their collaborative research and provides valuable insights into both the topic and the process of conducting meta-ethnographic studies.

Dr. Berman, now an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Central Michigan University, joined Dr. Rice to reflect on their published meta-ethnography, which examines the lived experiences of autistic girls navigating friendship. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the research process while underscoring the importance of amplifying perspectives that are often underrepresented in scholarship.

In the video, Drs. Rice and Berman discuss:

  • How they identified the research area of autistic girls and friendship
  • The formulation of their research question
  • Methodology and approaches for accessing data
  • Key ethical considerations
  • Data analysis techniques
  • Their findings and recommendations
  • Challenges they faced and lessons learned along the way

By exploring these themes, the video not only shares research outcomes but also serves as a valuable resource for emerging scholars interested in meta-ethnography and qualitative synthesis.