Dr. Heydarali Hooman , Father of Iranian Psychoanalysis and Pioneer of Statistical Methods in Behavioral Sciences

Biography

Dr. Heydarali Hooman (1932, Shiraz – 12 December 1992, Tehran) was a distinguished Iranian psychologist, psychoanalyst, and one of the most influential figures in the development of modern psychological research methodology in Iran. He is widely regarded as the father of Iranian psychoanalysis and a leading pioneer in the application of statistics and quantitative/qualitative research methods in psychology and educational sciences.

He passed away on 12 December 1992 at the age of 80 due to respiratory failure.

Academic Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Hooman’s scholarly work centered on:

  • Statistical methods in behavioral sciences
  • Inferential and multivariate statistics
  • Qualitative research methodologies
  • Psychological and educational measurement
  • Test construction and standardization

He played a major role in standardizing the Tehran–Stanford–Binet National Intelligence Test, a contribution that earned him the prestigious Kharazmi Award.

Three of his major works—

  • Understanding the Scientific Method,
  • Multivariate Data Analysis, and
  • Inferential Statistics—
    were selected as Books of the Year in Iran.

Major Publications

Dr. Hooman authored and co-authored numerous foundational textbooks and research manuals that remain central to Iranian psychology and educational sciences. His works include:

Books (Authored or Co-authored)

  • Structural Equation Modeling Using LISREL (SAMT)
  • Practical Guide to Qualitative Research (SAMT)
  • Multivariate Data Analysis in Behavioral Research
  • Statistical Inference in Behavioral Research (SAMT)
  • Understanding the Scientific Method in Behavioral Sciences (SAMT)
  • Descriptive Statistics in Behavioral Sciences
  • Psychological and Educational Measurements (Test and Questionnaire Construction)
  • A Practical Guide to Writing an Academic Thesis
  • Basic Mathematics of Statistics and Probability
  • Practical Guide to Preparing Statistical Tables in Behavioral Research (translated)
  • Practical Guide to Meta-Analysis in Scientific Research (SAMT)
  • Basics of Item Response Theory (New Psychometric Theory)
  • Preparation and Standardization of Job Satisfaction Scale
  • Correspondence Analysis and Its Applications (SAMT)
  • Dictionary of Psychology and Psychiatry and Related Fields (Persian–English), 1st and 2nd editions

Collaborative Research Books

Dr. Hooman collaborated extensively with leading Iranian psychologists such as Dr. Parirokh Dadestan, Dr. Hamideh Jahangiri, Dr. Alireza Norouzi, and Dr. Haratoun Davidian on applied research projects, including:

  • Sexual dysfunction in depressive patients
  • Cognitive‑behavioral and relaxation methods in reducing sexual anxiety
  • Quality of life and illness perception in elderly diabetic patients
  • Attention and concentration in preschool children with ADHD

Many of these works received Seasonal Book Awards between 2007 and 2013.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Hooman received numerous national recognitions, including:

  • Kharazmi Award for standardizing the Tehran–Stanford–Binet Intelligence Test
  • Book of the Year Awards for:
    • Understanding the Scientific Method
    • Multivariate Data Analysis
    • Inferential Statistics
  • Multiple Seasonal Book Awards (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) for collaborative research monographs

These honors reflect his central role in shaping modern Iranian psychological research.

Legacy

Dr. Heydarali Hooman is remembered as:

  • A foundational figure in Iranian psychoanalysis
  • A pioneer of statistical and methodological rigor in Iranian behavioral sciences
  • A leading educator whose textbooks shaped generations of psychologists
  • A major contributor to test development, measurement theory, and applied research

His extensive body of work continues to influence research, teaching, and professional practice in psychology and education across Iran.