Peter Hovmand

Dr. Hovmand is the founding director of the Social System Design Lab at the Brown School of Social Work. The mission of the Social System Design Lab is to advance the science and field of system dynamics practice in human services including social work, education, health, and public health. Dr. Hovmand holds degrees in electrical engineering, mathematics, and social work. His research focuses on how organizations and communities can successfully implement and sustain innovations to improve outcomes with application areas in mental health services, community responses to domestic violence, health services, obesity prevention, and natural resources.

To advance this research, he develops and draws on methods from electrical engineering and computer science, specifically system dynamics computer modeling and simulation, and participatory methods such as group model building.

Other interests include ordinary language philosophy, philosophy of mathematics, epistemology of social science, and feminist theory. He advises students interested in learning and applying system dynamics and systems thinking, and co-teaches a joint social work-engineering course with Dr. O’Sullivan, “A System Dynamics Approach to Designing Sustainable Social Policies and Programs.” He is co-founder and chair of the diversity committee for the System Dynamics Society and a member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, System Dynamics Society, Society for Social Work Research, and Society for Community Research and Action.

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Dr. Hovmand's Recent Publications

Hovmand, P.S., & Ford, D.N. (in press). Sequence and timing of three community interventions to domestic violence. American Journal of Community Psychology.
Hovmand, P.S., Ford, D.N., Flom, I., & Kyriakakis, S. (2009). Victims arrested for domestic violence: unintended consequences of arrest policies. System Dynamics Review, 25(3), 161-181.
Hovmand, P.S. & Ford, D. N. (2009). Real options approach for innovation implementation strategies. In Ford, A., Ford, D. N., & Anderson, E. G. (Eds.), Proceedings of 27th International Conference of the System Dynamics Society, July 26 - 30, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Read more
Hovmand, P.S. & O'Sullivan, J. A. (2008). Lessons from an interdisciplinary system dynamics course. System Dynamics Review, 24(4), 479-488.
Hovmand, P.S. & Gillespie, D.F. (2008, available online). Implementation of evidence based practice and organizational performance. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research.
Hovmand, P.S. (2008, April). Appendix C: Causal Mapping. In Cooperative Agreements for Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grants. Request for Applications No. SM-05-009. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. State of Missouri Comprehensive Mental Health Plan, April 2008 Read more
Proctor, E.K., Knudsen, K. J., Fedoravicius, N. F., Hovmand, P.S., Rosen, A., & Perron, B. (2007). Implementation of evidence-based practice in community behavioral health: agency director perspectives. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 34(5), 479-488.
Williams, J. H., Hovmand, P.S., & Bright, C. L. (2007). Overrepresentation of African American incarcerated for delinquency offenses in juvenile institutions. In A. R. Roberts & D. W. Springer (Eds.), Forensic social work in juvenile and criminal justice: An evidence-based handbook (pp. 363-381). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Hovmand, P.S., Jonson-Reid, M., & Drake, B. (2007). Mapping service networks. Journal of Technology and Human Services, 25(4), 1-22.
Drake, B., Hovmand, P.S., Jonson-Reid, M., & Zayas, L. H. (2007). Adopting and teaching evidence based practice in masters level social work programs. Journal of Social Work Education, 43(3), 431-446.
Hovmand, P. S. (2003). Analyzing dynamic systems: A comparison of structural equation modeling and system dynamics modeling. In B. H. Pugesek, A. Von Eye, and A. Tomer (Eds.), Structural Equation Modeling: Applications in Ecological and Evolutionary Biology Research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.