After securing approval for this special issue of The Score, we contacted individuals who knew Roger to see if they would like to provide some reflections of their interactions with him. Below are some of the reflections we received from Div. 5 members, as well Baylor’s president.
Leona Aiken, Arizona State University
(1) Roger — a great ballroom dancer — taught the Div. 5 Board Cuban motion of the hips, which is a critical part of Latin ballroom. He got everyone up out of their chairs and we practiced Cuban motion.
(2) I worked with Roger on getting APA Publication Board to institute Psychological Methods as a distinct journal. He was wonderful as a comrade in arms in this endeavor.
(3) At APA Conventions, Roger and his wife Jane were the stars of the dance floor at APA Governance dances; their smooth foxtrot is something to admire.
Liora Pedhazur Schmelkin, Hofstra University
As many of my colleagues around the country—and indeed the world—I first became acquainted with Roger through his texts. And to this day they still are readily available on my bookshelves as a resource. The lucidity with which he approaches complex topics is a testament to his ability as a teacher. I must admit that when I first met Roger when I became active in Div. 5, I was somewhat intimidated. But Roger is a kind hearted, wonderful, inclusive individual who welcomes newcomers and provides help along the way. I am grateful for his guidance and friendship.
Neal Schmitt, Michigan State University
Congratulations! Your 60 years at Baylor span my entire career. I don’t think we have ever met, but I have consulted your text for decades. Thank you for all of your indirect contributions to our science through your clear and concise exposition of our quantitative tools.
Frank L. Schmidt, University of Iowa
My comment illustrates just how intellectually open and flexible Roger Kirk was and is. Roger was elected as president of APA Div. 5 to succeed me. As president elect, he introduced me when I gave my outgoing Div. 5 presidential address in 1994 at the APA Convention. My presentation was a severe critique of the use of statistical significance testing in psychological research and research methodology [later published as: Schmidt, F. L. (1996), Statistical significance testing and cumulative knowledge in psychology: Implications for the training of researchers. Psychological Methods, 1, 115-129].
In my address I stated that statistical significance testing always had a bad effect and always retarded the advance of cumulative research knowledge. As the talk progressed, I noticed the look of shock on Roger’s face. He had published important and widely used and cited books and article on statistical methods in psychological research, and all of these publications relied on and advocated statistical significance tests and testing. But from that day forward, Roger became a critic of significance testing and an advocate of effect size estimation and confidence intervals. Over the years since then, he published many articles of this sort. I was never so impressed by anyone’s ability to revise his or her thinking of years when confronted with new evidence. I am still impressed now, after 24 years. I don’t know anyone else who was ever so intellectually open and flexible.
Larry Stricker, Educational Testing Service
Attention must be paid: six decades and still going strong! Roger has two defining characteristics that stick in my mind, after knowing him for much of this time. One is Roger’s modesty. Despite his important accomplishments, Roger hides his light under a bushel. The other is his cerebral, analytical orientation. Roger addresses all issues, large or small, with the same calm rationality. I am honored to be one of Roger’s colleagues.
Linda Livingstone, President of Baylor University
There are few professors in Baylor’s history that have left the impact and legacy that Dr. Kirk has. He is a preeminent researcher, having published world-class research in experimental design and statistics over seven consecutive decades. He is also a celebrated educator, widely renowned for his teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. As the longest-tenured faculty member in Baylor University’s history, Dr. Kirk has impacted the lives of thousands of Baylor students. We are deeply grateful for his 60 years of service!