Research Articles
Research Articles are scholarly papers based on original research, including experimental, qualitative, descriptive, and historical studies, or systematic reviews. These manuscripts form the core content of the Journal of Kinesiology and Wellness.
Submission Requirements
Submitted manuscripts will be subject to a blind peer-review process. Papers for consideration should not have been published elsewhere. WSKW Membership is not required.
Evaluation Criteria
As part of the peer review, the following areas will be evaluated:
- Original contribution to the field
- Clear purpose and objectives
- Clear methodology or logical arguments
- Sound data analyses or supported arguments
- Conclusion and implications
- Accurate grammar, tone, use of English
- Sound writing (sentence/paragraph structure)
- Use of current APA Style
- Relevance of tables and figures
Manuscript Structure
Cover Letter
Your submission must include a separate cover letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief. This letter should briefly outline the significance of the research, confirm that the manuscript is original and not under consideration elsewhere, and disclose any conflicts of interest.
Download Cover Letter Template
Title Page
Your manuscript submission must include a separate title page with the following information:
- Title of paper
- Name of Author(s) and order of contribution
- Author(s) affiliation
- Date of submission
- Author contact information (Name, address, phone, e-mail, and ORCID)
- Funding (if any)
- Acknowledgements (if any)
- Conflict of interest (if any)
- Statement that indicates the research is original and has not been published elsewhere
Blinded Manuscript
The main manuscript should be blinded (no author identifiers) and include:
- Title of paper (no authors listed)
- Abstract (250 words or less, formatted with structured headings such as Methods, Results, etc.)
- Main body with the following heading order (Note: APA does not use "Introduction" as a heading):
- Methods (or headings to fit a descriptive-type paper)
- Results (or headings to fit a descriptive type paper)
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- References
- Tables (placed after references, with APA-formatted captions on top)
- Figure captions (listed sequentially after the tables, in APA format)
Length: 15-page maximum, excluding references, cover page, and abstract.
Tables
Tables must be created using Word's built-in table features (do not paste tables as images). They should be added towards the end of the main manuscript file (after the references), rather than submitted as a separate document. Do not embed tables within the main text flow. Each table must follow APA 7th edition formatting:
- Authors must clearly indicate within the main text where each table should be placed (e.g., [Insert Table 1 here]).
- Provide captions on the top of each table. Each table must have a number (e.g., Table 1, Table 2) in bold, placed above the table on its own line.
- Descriptive title in italics immediately below the number (title case)
- Horizontal rules only (no vertical lines)
- A Note. below the table when abbreviations or additional context are needed
Separate Figure Files
Each figure (graph, chart, or image) must be submitted as a separate image file — one file per figure. Do not embed figures in the main manuscript.
Recommended formats:
| Format | Best use |
|---|---|
| TIFF (.tif) | All figure types; photographs (preferred) |
| PNG (.png) | Graphs, charts, line art |
| JPEG (.jpg) | Photographs only, at highest quality setting |
Minimum resolution:
| Figure type | Minimum DPI |
|---|---|
| Photographs / halftones | 300 dpi |
| Graphs, charts, line art | 600 dpi |
| Combination figures | 600 dpi |
Name each file with the figure number (e.g., figure1.tif, figure2.png). Resolution must be at the final printed size. Images from websites (typically 72 dpi) and default PowerPoint exports are not acceptable.
Publication Process
All accepted papers will be published online shortly after being accepted. The JKW accepts submissions on a rolling basis, and papers are published as they are accepted rather than waiting for a full volume to be completed.
Full volumes are compiled and published once a year in January.
Human Subjects Research
For research involving human subjects, you must include:
- IRB Approval Statement: Explain that your research project has received approval from an IRB
- Consent for Adult Subjects: If your study involves adult subjects, include a statement confirming that informed consent was obtained from all participants
- Consent and Assent for Child Subjects: In studies involving children, affirm that consent was obtained from parents or guardians, and assent was acquired from the children
These details must be included in the manuscript itself, and the IRB protocol number should be included in the cover letter.