GVSU Education Programs News
Faculty explores the power of critical friendship in new book
January 05, 2026
Elizabeth Petroelje Stolle, Ph.D., professor in Literacy Studies in the Department of Literacy, Educational Foundations, & Technology, is the co-author of a new book published by Springer, Critical Friendship as a Self-Study Research Tool: A Comprehensive Resource Exploring the Complexities . Written with longtime collaborator Charlotte Frambaugh-Kritzer of the University of Hawai'i, the book offers a much-needed resource for educators and researchers seeking to deepen reflective practice through self-study research.
The book emerged from a professional relationship that has spanned more than two decades. “Our critical friendship has shaped our teaching, research, and professional learning over time,” Stolle explained. As the two scholars engaged in self-study work together, they noticed that while critical friendship is frequently referenced in academic literature, there was no single, comprehensive text that clearly articulated its theoretical foundations, relational dimensions, and practical enactment. “Our goal was to offer the field a shared language, concrete examples, and guidance grounded in lived experience,” Stolle said, “so that educators and researchers could more intentionally and rigorously engage in critical friendship as both a methodological tool and professional practice.”
At its core, critical friendship is about purposeful collaboration rooted in trust. Stolle describes it as “a collaborative, trust-based relationship that serves as a research tool for self-study scholars,” where colleagues intentionally challenge, question, and support one another’s thinking. Unlike surface-level affirmation, critical friendship requires balancing care and critique to strengthen analysis and promote professional growth. “It pushes teacher educators to move beyond affirmation toward growth, accountability, and transformation within the research,” she noted.
By offering both conceptual grounding and practical guidance, Critical Friendship as a Self-Study Research Tool contributes a significant new resource to the field of teacher education and self-study research. The book reflects Stolle’s ongoing commitment to reflective practice, collaborative inquiry, and advancing research methodologies that meaningfully impact educators’ teaching and learning.