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Meredy Goldberg Edelson

Professor of Psychology

Headshot of Meredy Goldberg Edelson

Contact Information

Salem Campus

Address
Smullin 253
900 State Street
Salem  Oregon  97301
U.S.A.
Phone
503-370-6133

Education

PhD 1992 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Major: Clinical Psychology; Minors: Developmental Psychology, Quantitative Psychology.

MA 1988 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Major: Clinical Psychology.

BA 1983 Macalester College (Summa Cum Laude and with Highest Honors); Major: Psychology; Core: Speech Communication; Minor: Sociology.

Bio

Professor Goldberg Edelson received her PhD in Clinical Psychology (focused on children) in 1992 from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has been at Willamette since 1992 and has taught a variety of courses including in the College Colloquium; Introductory Psychology, Diagnosis of "Abnormal" Child/Adolescent Behavior; Psychology of Women and Gender; Psychology and Law; the Senior internship and Junior pre-internship orientation courses; and seminars on Violence against Women and Children, Child Sexual Abuse, and Forensic Psychology. Her current research interests include possible biases in child sexual abuse judgments and legal outcomes for children who have been sexually abused, physically abused, neglected, or exposed to violence and drugs. She is the mother of three, is a dog-lover and nature-lover, and plays the guitar, tennis, and golf. She is also an avid Green Bay Packers fan!

Research

Previously, my research was focused on intellectual functioning in individuals with autism. Currently, my research is focused on possible biases in child sexual abuse judgments and legal outcomes in children who have been sexually abused, physically abused, neglected, or for whom there are concerns of exposure to violence or drugs.

Courses

IDS 101: College Colloquium (Constructing Reality)

PSYC 210: Introductory Psychology

PSYC 337: Diagnosis of "Abnormal" Child/Adolescent Behavior

PSYC 370A: Psychology and Law

PSYC 431W: Forensic Psychology Seminar

Recent Publications

Walsh, W.A., Lippert, T., Edelson, M.G., & Jones, L.M. (2015). Length of time to resolve criminal charges of child sexual abuse: A three-county case study. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 33, 528-545. doi: 10.1002/bsl.2187. (invited manuscript).

Edelson, M.G. (2013). Why have all the boys gone?: Gender differences in prosecution acceptance of child sexual abuse cases. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 25, 461-481. doi: 10.1177/1079063212465900

Edelson, M.G., & Joa, D. (2010). Differences in legal outcomes for male and female children who have been sexually abused. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 22, 427-442.

Edelson, M.G. (2010). Sexual abuse of children with autism: Factors that increase risk and interfere with recognition of abuse. Disabilities Studies Quarterly, 30 (1) Special issue: Autism and Neurodiversity (invited manuscript).

Edelson, M.G., Hokoda, A., & Ramos-Lira, L. (2007). Differences in effects of domestic violence between Latina and Non-Latina women. Journal of Family Violence, 22, 1-10.

Edelson, M.G. (2006). Are the majority of children with autism mentally retarded?: A systematic evaluation of the data. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 21, 66-83.

Edelson, M.G. (2005). A car goes in the garage like a can of peas goes in the refrigerator: Do deficits in real-world knowledge affect the assessment of intelligence in individuals with autism? Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 20, 2-9.

Joa, D. & Edelson, M.G. (2004). Legal outcomes for children who have been sexually abused: The impact of child abuse assessment center evaluations. Child Maltreatment, 9, 263-276.

Edelson, M.G. (2001). Do social knowledge deficits adversely affect the assessment of intelligence in those with autism? Proceedings of the ASA National Conference on Autism (pp. 177-181). Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc.

Edelson, S.M., Edelson, M.G., Kerr, D.C.R., & Grandin, T. (1999). Behavioral and physiological effects of deep pressure on individuals with autism: A pilot study investigating the efficacy of Grandin's 'Hug Machine.' American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 53, 145-152.

Recent Conference Presentations

Edelson, M.G. (2014). Possible biases in child sexual abuse judgments. Western Psychological Association Conference, Portland, OR, April.

Feinberg, Z. & Edelson, M.G. (2014). Executive Functioning in sexually abused children. Western Psychological Association Conference, Portland, OR, April.

Elwood, C. & Edelson, M.G. (2014). The relation of age and question type in sexual abuse forensic interviews. Western Psychological Association Conference, Portland, OR, April.

Edelson, M.G., Engle, M., & Hadley, B. (2009). Are males’ or females’ cases of child sexual abuse more provable in a court of law? Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR, April.

Edelson, M.G., & Joa, D. (2007). Differences in the legal treatment of male and female victims of child sexual abuse. Paper presented at the 16th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Portland, OR, April.

Hokoda, A., Edelson, M.G., Ramos-Lira, L., Caballero, M.A., Saltijeral, M.T., Angeles, M., Ruíz, S.,& Guerrero, G. (2005). Evaluation of an Educational Program ("Mamás Ayudando a Sus Hijos"/"Moms Helping Kids") in Méxican Battered Women and their Children: A Pilot Study. Symposium presentation at the 10th International Conference on Family Violence, San Diego, CA.

Edelson, M.G. & Joa, D. (2005). Legal outcomes following child abuse assessment center evaluations. Paper presented at the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR, April.

Edelson, M.G., Hokoda, A., & Ramos-Lira, L. (2005). Effects of domestic violence in Latina and Non-Latina women. Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR, April.

Edelson, M.G. (2003). Are the majority of children with autism mentally retarded? Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, BC, May.

Joa, D. & Edelson, M.G. (2003). Legal outcomes for children evaluated at a child abuse assessment center. Paper presented at the APSAC Colloquium, Orlando, FL, July.

Joa, D. & Edelson, M.G. (2003). Legal outcomes for children evaluated at a child abuse assessment center. Paper presented at the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, BC, May.

Ortega, J. & Edelson, M.G. (2003). A study of the cycle of abuse in a familial sample. Paper presented at the Oregon Academy of Science, McMinnville, OR, February.

Awards

LARC Grant: $4000 awarded to faculty of the Psychology Department for curriculum review and revision of senior internship and junior internship orientation classes.

Willamette University

Psychology Department

Address
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem Oregon 97301 U.S.A.
Phone
503-375-5306 voice
503-375-6512 fax