Overview
Lab: Community Responses to Sexual Assault Research Group
EDCUATION
Michigan State University, Ph.D. Ecological-Community Psychology 2020 (Specialization
in Quantitative Methods and Evaluation Sciences)
Michigan State University, M.A. Ecological-Community Psychology 2017
Knox College, B.A. Gender & Women’s Studies 2009
Current Instructor
Clinical-Community Seminar, Research Methods, Program Evaluation Theory & Design
If you'd like to hear more about Dr. Goodman-Williams' research, listen to this episode (link below) of the Just Science podcast where Dr. Goodman-Williams and her community partner, Dr. Jessica Volz, were interviewed about their work exploring why sexual assault survivors may have forensic evidence collected and choose not to make a police report at that time.
Link: https://forensiccoe.org/podcast-2022saam-ep4/
Information
My research explores the processes and trajectories of healing after sexual assault and how communities can facilitate healing with survivor-centered services. Much of my research focuses on the alternative reporting options available to survivors who want to have forensic evidence collected after an assault without reporting to police at that time. My research is currently funded by a three-year Office on Violence Against Women Research & Evaluation Initiative grant and is carried out in close collaboration with community partners in forensic nursing, policing, and victim advocacy.
Gender-based violence, help-seeking, survivor autonomy, trauma-informed services
Goodman-Williams, R., Volz, J., & Smith, S. (2024). Do concerns about police reporting vary by assault characteristics? Understanding the non-reporting decisions of sexual assault victims who utilize alternative reporting options. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 20(3), 151-159. https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000469
Goodman-Williams, R., Volz, J., & Fishwick, K. (2024). Reasons for not reporting among sexual assault survivors who seek medical forensic exams: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(9-10), 1905-1925. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231211926
Goodman-Williams, R., Simmons, C., Chiaramonte, D., Ayeni, O.O., Guerrero, M., Sprecher, M., & Sullivan, C.M. (2023). Domestic violence survivors‘ housing stability, safety, and well-being over time: Examining the role of Domestic Violence Housing First, social support, and material hardship. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000686
Goodman-Williams, R., Dworkin, E., & Hetfield, M. (2023). Why do rape victimization rates vary across studies? A meta-analysis examining moderating variables. Aggression and Violent Behavior. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2023.101839
Goodman-Williams, R., Clark., S.L., Campbell, R.M., & Ullman, S.E. (2023). Longitudinal patterns of PTSD symptoms among sexual assault survivors: A latent transition analysis. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001376
Upcoming Conference Presentations:
American Society of Criminology (November 14, 2024): “Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Options for Non-Reporting Victims: A Policy Analysis of State-by-State Variation.”
End Violence Against Women International (April 24, 2025) “Empowering Survivors Through Anonymous Consultation Calls with Sex Crimes Detectives” and “Medical Forensic Exams for Non-Reporting Survivors: Variation in State Policies and Implications for Practice.”