Elizabeth Goldman

I am a developmental psychologist interested in how children learn about and navigate an increasingly technological world. My research examines children's social cognition, learning, and interactions with both human and technological agents, including social robots and artificial intelligence.

 

I earned my B.S. in Psychology from the University of California, Davis, and my Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where I worked with Dr. Su-hua Wang in the Infant and Child Development Lab. My doctoral research explored how parents help young children make sense of their interactions with robotic toys. I later completed postdoctoral training with Dr. DianePoulin-Dubois at Concordia University's Cognitive and Language Development Lab.

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Today, I am an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Yeshiva University and Director of the Children and Technology (CAT) Lab. My students and I study how children understand, learn from, and reason about emerging technologies such as social robots, voice assistants, and AI. We are particularly interested in how children's perceptions of these technologies are shaped by their appearance, behavior, and social interactions, and what these insights can tell us about learning and cognitive development more broadly.

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One of my favorite parts of being a professor is mentoring undergraduate researchers. Through the CAT Lab, students gain hands-on experience designing studies, collecting and analyzing data, presenting at conferences, and contributing to scholarly research.

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Originally from Southern California, I still take every opportunity to visit family and spend time near the beach. When I'm not teaching or conducting research, I enjoy baking, watching movies, traveling, and spending time with my cat, Mushu.