Summary
Dr. Ramona A. Houmanfar is a Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Behavior Analysis Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. She currently serves as the trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, Chair of the Organizational Behavior Management Section of Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, editorial board members of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, and Behavior & Social Issues, and Co-Coordinator of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board at the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). Dr. Houmanfar has served as the editor of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, senior co-chair of the ABAI convention, Director of the Organizational Behavior Management Network, and President of the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis.
Dr. Houmanfar has published over seventy peer-reviewed articles and chapters, delivered more than 100 presentations at regional, national, and international conferences in the areas of behavioral systems analysis, cultural behavior analysis, leadership in organizations, rule governance, communication networks, instructional design, and bilingual repertoire analysis and learning. Her expertise in behavioral systems analysis, cultural behavior analysis and analysis of verbal behavior has also guided her research associated with implicit bias, cooperation, situational awareness, decision making, and value-based governance. Dr. Houmanfar has published three co-edited books titled “Organizational Change” (Context Press), "Understanding Complexity in Organizations", and “Leadership & Cultural Change (Taylor & Francis Group). Some recent accomplishments include being awarded ABAI Fellow designation, and publication of a co-edited book titled “Applied Behavior Science in Organization” (Taylor & Francis Group) sponsored by ABAI.
Check out: Houmanfar, R. A., Fryling, M., Alavosius, M. P. (2021). Applied Behavior Science in Organizations: Consilience of Historical and Emerging Trends in Organizational Behavior Management. Taylor & Francis Group.
Research interests
- Communication networks in behavioral systems analysis
- Leadership communication
- Rule governance
- Value-based governance
- Well-being in organizations
- Implicit bias
- Cooperation
- Situational awareness
Courses taught
- Behavioral Systems Analysis (PSY 769)
- Behavior Management & Consultation (PSY 767)
Education
- Ph.D., Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1998
- M.A., Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1993
Selected publications
- Smith, G. S., Houmanfar, R. A., Jacobs, N. N., Froehlich, M., Szarko, A. J., Smith, B. M., Kemmelmeier, M., Baker, T. K., Piasecki, M. P., Schwenk, T. (2022). Assessment of medical student burnout: toward an implicit measure to address current issues. Advances in Health Sciences Education.
- Houmanfar, R. A., Szarko, A. (2021). Utilizing values-based governance to promote well-being in organizations and beyond. In Houmanfar R. A., Fryling M., Alavosius M. P. (Eds.) Applied Behavior Science in Organizations: Consilience of Historical and Emerging Trends in Organizational Behavior Management, (pp. 291-315). Taylor & Francis Group.
- Esquierdo-Leal, J. L., Houmanfar, R. A. (2021). Creating inclusive and equitable cultural practices by linking leadership to systemic change. Behavior Analysis & Practice.
- Ardila Sánchez, J. G., Houmanfar, R. A., Fleming, W. (2020). Interindividual performance in metacontingencies. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 46, 162 – 201.
- Houmanfar, R. A., Ardila Sánchez, J. G., Alavosius, M. P. (2020). Role of cultural milieu in cultural change: mediating factor in points of contact. In T. Cihon, M. A. Mattaini (Eds.). Behavior Science Perspectives on Culture and Community (pp. 151-170). New York, NY: Springer.
- Ghezzi, E. L., Houmanfar, R. A., Crosswell, L. (2020). The motivative augmental effects of verbal stimuli on cooperative and conformity responding under a financially competing contingency in an analog work task. The Psychological Record, 70, 411–431.
- Anbro, S. J., Szarko, A. J., Houmanfar, R. A., Maraccini, A. M., Crosswell, L. H., Harris, F. C., Rebaleati, M., Starmer, L. (2020). Using virtual simulations to assess communication and situational awareness in medical and nursing education: A technical feasibility study. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 40(1-2), 129-139.
- Al-Nasser, T., Burleigh, K. J., Ardila Sánchez, J. G., Houmanfar, R. A. (2019). Metacontingency and macrocontingency analysis related to honor crimes in the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan. Behavior and Social Issue, 28, 140-159.
- Ardila Sánchez, J. G., Houmanfar, R. A., Alavosius, M. P. (2019). A descriptive analysis of the effects of weather disasters on community resilience. Behavior and Social Issues, 28, 298–315.
- Lewon, M. P., Houmanfar, R. A., Hayes, L. J. (2019). The Will to Fight: Aversion-induced aggression and the role of motivation in intergroup conflicts. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 42, 889-910.
- Houmanfar, R. A., Alavosius, M. P., Binder, C., Johnson, K. (2019). Human Competence Revisited: 40 Years of Impact. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 39, 1-16.
- Rafacz, S., Houmanfar, R., Smith, G., Levin, M. (2018). Assessing the effects of motivative augmentals, pay for-performance, and implicit verbal responding on cooperation. The Psychological Record, 69, 49-66.
- Maraccini, A. M., Houmanfar, R. A., Kemmelmeier, M., Piasecki, M., Slonim, A. E. (2018). An inter-professional approach to train and evaluate communication accuracy and completeness during the delivery of nurse-physician student handoffs. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 12, 65–72.
- Reimer, D., Houmanfar, R. A. (2017). Internalities and Their Applicability for Organizational Practices. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 37, 5–31.
- Brayko, C. A., Houmanfar, R. A., Ghezzi, E. L. (2016). Organized Cooperation: A behavioral perspective on volunteerism. Behavior and Social Issues, 25, 77-98.
- Glenn, S. S., Malott, M. E., Andery, M. A. P. A., Houmanfar, R. A., Sandaker, I., Todorov, J. C., Tourinho, E. Z., Vasconcelos, L. A. (2016). Toward consistent terminology in a behaviorist approach to cultural analysis. Behavior and Social Issues, 25, 11-27.
- Houmanfar, R. A., Mattaini, M. A. (2016). Leadership and cultural change: Implications for Behavior Analysis. The Behavior Analyst, 39(1), 41-46.
- Maraccini, A. M., Houmanfar, R. A., Szarko, A. (2016). Motivation and complex verbal phenomena: Implications for organizational research and practice. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 36, 282-300.
- Houmanfar, R., Alavosius, M. P., Morford, Z. H., Herbst, S. A., Reimer, D. (2015). Functions of Organizational Leaders in Cultural Change: Financial and Social Well-being. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 35, 4-27.
- Brown, L., Houmanfar, R. (2015). The Cost of Affluence: A Closer Look at the Food Industry. Behavior and Social Issues, 24, 4-22.
- Chase, J., Houmanfar, R., Hayes, S., Ward, T., Plumb, J., Follette, V. (2013). Values Are Not Just Goals: Online ACT-Based Values Training Adds to Goal Setting in Improving Undergraduate College Student Performance (2013). Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 2, 79-84.
- Houmanfar, R., Rodrigues, N. J. (2012). The Role of Leadership and Communication in Organizational Change. Journal of Applied Radical Behavior Analysis. N1, 22–27. (Also accepted for publication in Psicologia Applicata alla Medicina del Lavoro e della Riabilitazione).
- Houmanfar, R., Ward, T. A. (2012). Value Clarification & Perspective Taking in Effective Organizational Change Processes. Journal of Applied Radical Behavior Analysis. N1, 92-97.
- Houmanfar, R., Ward, T. A. (2012). An Interdisciplinary Account of Martyrdom as a Religious Practice. Latin American Journal of Psychology, 44, 65-75.
- Houmanfar, R. A., Rodrigues, N. J., Ward, T. A., (2010). Emergence & Metacontingency: Points of Contact and Departure. Behavior and Social Issues, 20.