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  Cluster 4: Social Sciences, Psychology & Humanities

Journals for Sports and Exercise Psychology (2026)

Sports and exercise psychology research — on athlete mental skills, performance anxiety, exercise motivation, team cohesion, and exercise behaviour change — has direct applications for athletes, coaches, and physical activity promotion practitioners. Keith Publications JPBS provides a peer-reviewed, open access home for sport and exercise psychology research.

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What to Look for When Choosing a Journal

Before submitting your research, evaluate journals on these key criteria:

  • Specialist scope — the journal must cover your specific niche social science sub-field
  • Editorial board with recognised experts in the niche area
  • Track record of publishing research in the specific sub-discipline
  • Open access to ensure niche research reaches its specialist global audience
  • Indexing ensuring niche research is found by the relevant academic community
  • Welcoming of interdisciplinary approaches where niche fields intersect

Recommended Journals — Cluster 4: Social Sciences, Psychology & Humanities

All journals below are published by Keith Publications — open access, peer-reviewed, and indexed for global discoverability.

  • Journal of Social and Political Sciences Research (JSPSR)

    Social sciences, political science, governance, public policy, international relations, sociology, and interdisciplinary research on social structures and political systems.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Social Sciences Political Science Public Policy Sociology
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  • Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Studies (JPBS)

    Psychology, behavioural science, cognitive science, social psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, counselling, and applied psychological research.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Psychology Behavioral Science Cognitive Science Applied Psychology
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  • Journal of Education and Social Sciences Letters (JESSL)

    Education research, pedagogy, curriculum development, educational psychology, social sciences education, teacher training, higher education policy, and learning sciences.

    Review: 2–3 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Education Research Pedagogy Educational Psychology Social Sciences Education
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  • Journal of Culture, Humanities and Society (JCHS)

    Humanities, cultural studies, gender studies, communication studies, media studies, social work, development studies, anthropology, history, and interdisciplinary cultural research.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Humanities Cultural Studies Gender Studies Communication Studies
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Fast Publication: All Keith Publications journals complete initial review within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks. Articles are published online within 5–10 days of acceptance — making us one of the fastest open access publishers in the social sciences, psychology, and humanities field.

Publishing Niche Social Sciences Research: Finding the Right Platform

Niche social sciences research — whether it is post-colonial sociology, educational neuroscience, environmental psychology, conflict resolution studies, or digital humanities — often struggles to find an appropriate publication home. Journals too broad in scope may reject niche research for being insufficiently general; journals too narrow may have limited readership. Keith Publications social sciences journals are designed to accommodate the interdisciplinary breadth of modern social science, including niche and specialist research areas that sit at the intersection of psychology, sociology, education, political science, cultural studies, and humanities.

Why Niche Social Sciences Research Deserves Quality Publication

Niche social sciences research makes the contributions that advance specialist sub-fields, challenge established assumptions, and build the evidence base for highly specific policy and practice questions. A study on the psychology of climate grief, the sociology of platform workers, the educational experiences of indigenous students, or the political science of local participatory democracy may have a smaller initial audience than a broad review paper — but its long-term citation and policy impact can be substantial. Publishing niche research in an indexed, open access journal maximises its discoverability within the specialist community that values and can build upon it.

Tips to Maximise Your Acceptance Chances

  1. Align your topic with the journal's scope — read the aims and scope carefully before submitting.
  2. Write a compelling abstract — clearly state your research question, methodology, key findings, and contribution to the field.
  3. Ensure ethical compliance — include ethics committee approval, participant consent, and positionality statements where applicable.
  4. Follow reporting standards — use APA, PRISMA, COREQ, or other appropriate guidelines for your research design and discipline.
  5. Use current and relevant references — cite recent publications alongside seminal works in your social science or humanities discipline.
  6. Follow formatting guidelines exactly — non-compliant manuscripts are often desk-rejected without peer review.
  7. State theoretical and practical implications — explain how your findings contribute to scholarly debate and/or inform policy and practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I publish sports and exercise psychology research?
The Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Studies (JPBS) from Keith Publications accepts sports and exercise psychology research — including athlete performance psychology, pre-competition anxiety, team dynamics, exercise adherence, physical activity behaviour change, and coaching psychology studies.
Is research on mindfulness in sport psychology accepted at Keith Publications?
Yes. Research on mindfulness-based interventions for athletes — including mindfulness-acceptance-commitment approaches, mindful sport performance enhancement, and the psychological mechanisms of mindfulness in competitive sport — is within scope for Keith Publications JPBS.
Can exercise psychology intervention research be published?
Yes. RCTs and quasi-experimental evaluations of exercise behaviour change interventions — including motivational interviewing, self-determination theory applications, implementation intentions, and habit formation approaches for exercise — are within scope for Keith Publications exercise psychology journals.
Is disability sport psychology research accepted at Keith Publications?
Yes. Research on the psychology of Paralympic athletes, disability sport participation, adapted physical activity motivation, and the psychological wellbeing of athletes with disabilities is within scope for Keith Publications sports and exercise psychology journals.

Related Research Guides

Explore other research journal guides in the Social Sciences, Psychology & Humanities cluster:

Ready to Publish Your Research?

Submit your social sciences, psychology, education, or humanities manuscript to Keith Publications today. Fast peer review, open access, and global indexing — get your work published within weeks.

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