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Remembering Irving Sigel

Article  in  Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology · July 2008

DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2008.04.003

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Uri Shafrir
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
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 Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 29 (2008) 253

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

Foreword

Remembering Irving Sigel

This volume of the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology is dedicated to the memory and legacy of Irving E. Sigel, the
journal founder and long-time editor. Sigel sought to infuse developmental science with considerations of basic human values such
as social justice and caring for others. Sigel maintained that human values underlie beliefs and actions and in a fundamental way
propel them. He championed commitment to these values with openness in his own lifelong quest for a better world and he also
inspired many of us to do likewise. Irv's legacy includes a balanced appreciation for the importance of understanding development
and seeking to find better ways to enhance child development and family functioning.
The articles in this volume offer only a sampling of the breadth and depth of Sigel's interests, research, and contributions but
they represent how his approach to the study of development encompasses respect for children, teachers, parents, researchers,
practitioners and other professionals who work with them. Some of these papers are in areas that Sigel himself investigated and
advanced, while others reflect his impact on others' work that grew out of his sincere and deep interest, support, and curiosity
about areas outside of his own research agenda. Even so, the papers included provide only a brief and incomplete glimpse of his
contribution to the field. We hope this issue makes it apparent that he unselfishly shared and made deeply important connections
with a wide range of scholars. This special issue reflects the response of many who contacted the journal, speaking with warmth,
humor, and a sense of personal as well as professional loss when reacting to the news of his passing.
Many of us enjoyed his wise and incisive commentaries not only on issues of representation and meaning, research and
practice, but also on the way he saw the world around him. His humorous comments about details of research design and
interpretation of results reflected his clarity of insight and the occasional highlighting of personality flaws of self and friends alike.
He was generous with his wisdom, in sharing insights, and in supporting colleagues' ideas. Sigel recognized that differences of
background and perspective enable reflection, as well as opportunities to ask questions, clarify and understand. In founding the
journal, he positioned contributors and readers to work with new information, and to stretch their present understanding of
theory, method, and practice. As the present issue demonstrates, this is a legacy that is rich with possibility. It reflects the kind of
insight that typified Sigel's contributions to the field; it is a gift that keeps on giving.

Ann V. McGillicuddy-De Lisi, Editor

Department of Psychology, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042, USA
E-mail address: mcgillia@lafayette.edu.
Uri Shafrir, Guest editor
James E. Johnson, Guest editor
K. Ann Renninger, Guest editor

0193-3973/$ – see front matter © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2008.04.003

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