Author Guidelines

  1. Manuscript Submission
  • Submission Method: Manuscripts should be submitted electronically through the journal's online submission system. No physical/ emailed submissions will be accepted.
  • File Format: Please submit your manuscript in Microsoft Word or LaTeX format. Make sure all text, figures, and tables are embedded within the document.
  • Language: Manuscripts should be written in English. Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to have their manuscript proofread prior to submission.
  • Plagiarism: All manuscripts will be checked for plagiarism using industry-standard tools. Authors must ensure that their submission is original and properly cites any sources used.
  1. Manuscript Structure

Your manuscript should include the following sections, formatted as outlined:

  • Title Page: (title page must be submitted separately from the anonymised manuscript)
    • Title of the article (concise and descriptive)
    • Full names and affiliations of all authors (including email addresses)
    • Corresponding author designation
    • Acknowledgments (if applicable)
    • Declaration of conflict of interest. If none please insert the statement 'Authors declare no conflict of interests'
  • Abstract:
    • A 250 word concise summary of the article, including the background, aims/objectives, methods, key findings, and conclusions.
    • Avoid references in the abstract.
  • Keywords:
    • 4-6 relevant keywords that capture the essence of your study.
  • Introduction:
    • Clearly state the research problem, objectives, and the context of your study.
    • Briefly review relevant literature to set the foundation for your study.
  • Methods:
    • Provide a detailed description of the research design, participants, data collection methods, and analysis techniques.
    • Ensure transparency to allow replication of the study.
  • Results/findings:
    • Present the findings in a clear and structured manner, using tables and figures where appropriate.
    • Interpret the data without over-explaining.
  • Discussion:
    • Analyse and interpret the findings in the context of previous research.
    • Discuss the implications of your results for theory, practice, and future research.
    • Acknowledge any limitations of the study.
    • Propose recommendations for future research or practical applications.
  • Conclusion:
    • Summarise the main findings and their significance.
  • References:
    • Use APA (7th edition) style for citing references. Include only those that are directly cited in the manuscript.
    • Ensure that all references are complete and correctly formatted.
  • Figures and Tables:
    • All figures and tables must be numbered consecutively and referred to in the text.
    • Provide clear and concise titles and legends for each figure/table.
    • High-quality images and charts should be submitted in separate files (JPEG, PNG, or TIFF).
  1. Formatting Requirements
  • Text: Use 12-point Arial font, with 1.5-line spacing and 1-inch margins on all sides.
  • Headings: Use bold font for headings and subheadings. Follow this format:
    • Level 1 Heading: Centered, bold, title case
    • Level 2 Heading: Left-aligned, bold, title case
    • Level 3 Heading: Left-aligned, bold, sentence case
  • Page Numbers: All pages should be numbered.
  1. Ethical Considerations
  • Human and Animal Rights: If your study involves human participants or animals, you must provide confirmation that ethical approval was obtained from the appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board.
  • Informed Consent: Authors should ensure that written informed consent was obtained from all participants (where applicable) and that confidentiality is maintained.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including financial, personal, or professional relationships that may influence the study.
  1. Acknowledgments
  • You may acknowledge individuals or organisations that supported your research, including funding sources and institutions. The names of funders will be anonymised for peer-review and revealed when the paper is published.

Journal Sections

Original Research Articles
Word Limit: Up to 4,000 words (excluding abstract, tables, and a maximum of 40 references)
Description: This section is intended for full-length, original studies that introduce new data or theoretical insights. Manuscripts should include a complete account of the study, from the introduction and methodology to results, discussion, and conclusions demonstrating how the findings advance current knowledge in the field.

Evidence Synthesis Studies (Reviews)
Word Limit: Up to 4,000 words (excluding abstract, tables, and a maximum of 40 references)
Description: This new section is dedicated to manuscripts that rigorously collect, appraise, and synthesise existing research evidence. Authors should employ transparent and replicable methodologies such as those outlined in PRISMA guidelines to systematically review and, if applicable, quantitatively combine findings from multiple studies. Whether a study is a systematic review, a scoping review, or a meta-analysis, the article should include a detailed methods section that explains the search strategy, selection criteria, and data analysis process, culminating in a discussion of the implications for practice or future research.

Brief Reports
Word Limit: 2,000 words (excluding abstract, tables, and a maximum of 20 references)
Description: Brief reports provide a concise summary of new findings or preliminary data. Although shorter than full research articles, these reports must still present a clear narrative covering the introduction, methods, key results, and a brief discussion to communicate the significance of the work efficiently.

Case Studies
Word Limit: 2,000 words (inclusive)
Description: Case studies present detailed accounts of specific instances or events that offer unique insights into practical challenges or novel approaches in relation to human occupation and wellbeing. These manuscripts should clearly describe the context, the intervention or methods applied, the observed outcomes, and the lessons learned that may inform practice or further research.

Personal narratives
Word Limit: 2,500 words (inclusive)
Description: This format invites authors to share personal narratives related to their experiences. Written in the first person, offering a subjective yet valuable perspective for showcasing the importance of reciprocal influence between occupation and wellbeing.

Perspectives/Opinion Pieces
Word Limit: 2,000 words (inclusive)
Description: These submissions provide personal viewpoints or expert commentary on current issues, trends, or controversies within the field. Opinion Pieces are less formal, intended to provoke discussion. Perspectives could be scholarly essays that offer an indepth view on a specific research area. They discuss current advances and future directions often integrating information from multiple sources to propose new hypotheses or approaches.

Editorials
Word Limit: 1,500 words 
Description: Typically written by invited experts or the journal’s editorial team, editorials comment on the content of the current issue, major trends in the field, or significant developments. 

Book Reviews

Word Limit: 1,000 words. Authors and publishers are encouraged to submit review copies of their recent related books. Received books will be listed as Books Received within the journal's Announcements section. For inquiries about sending your review copies please contact us on: admin@howj.org

Announcements and Advertisements 

Announcements regarding academic activities such as conferences are published for free in the Announcements section of the journal. All advertising requests are subject to approval by the editorial team. For inquiries about sending your announcements or advertisements please contact us on: admin@howj.org