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  Cluster 4: Social Sciences, Psychology & Humanities

Social Sciences Journals for African Researchers (2026)

African social science researchers produce vital scholarship on development, governance, inequality, culture, and social change — but face structural barriers to publication including high APCs, Eurocentric editorial boards, and limited institutional support. Keith Publications provides a welcoming, affordable, open access platform for African social science researchers across psychology, sociology, education, political science, and humanities.

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What to Look for When Choosing a Journal

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

  • Welcoming of research from all countries and academic contexts globally
  • Open access for global readership without subscription barriers
  • Editorial board with international representation across regions
  • CrossRef DOI and Google Scholar indexing for global discoverability
  • English-language publication with clear guidance on language support
  • APC waivers for eligible researchers from lower-income economies

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.

Why Global Perspectives Matter in Social Sciences Research

Social sciences research has historically been dominated by perspectives from North America and Western Europe — creating a significant imbalance in whose social realities are studied, theorised, and published. Social sciences findings derived primarily from WEIRD societies (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic) are increasingly recognised as limited in their global generalisability. Keith Publications actively encourages social sciences, psychology, education, and humanities research from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Oceania — providing a global publication platform where research from every region can be peer-reviewed, published, and cited alongside globally leading scholarship.

Supporting Social Sciences Research from Developing Countries

Researchers from lower-income countries face structural barriers to publishing in major social sciences journals: expensive APCs, English language disadvantage, limited institutional support, and editorial boards that may be unfamiliar with non-Western academic traditions and research contexts. Keith Publications addresses these barriers directly: APC waivers and discounts are available for eligible researchers from lower-income economies, editorial support is responsive and constructive, and the journals welcome research from every national and cultural context. We are committed to making credible social science publication genuinely accessible to researchers worldwide — not just those at well-resourced institutions in wealthy countries.

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

Which social science journals are most welcoming to African researchers?
Keith Publications Cluster 4 journals — JSPSR, JPBS, JESSL, and JCHS — are explicitly welcoming to African social science researchers, with APC waiver programmes for eligible researchers from lower-income African institutions and editorial openness to African research contexts, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks.
Are African indigenous knowledge systems accepted in Keith Publications journals?
Yes. Research that draws on African indigenous knowledge systems, Ubuntu philosophy, African feminist theory, and African sociological traditions is welcomed at Keith Publications as part of the journal's commitment to methodological and epistemological diversity.
What types of African social science research are most needed?
African social science is particularly needed on: governance and democratic consolidation in Africa, African development pathways, urban poverty and inequality, gender-based violence and women's rights, migration within and from Africa, education access and quality, mental health in African contexts, and environmental challenges including climate change impacts on African communities.
Can researchers at African universities get APC waivers at Keith Publications?
Yes. Keith Publications offers APC waivers and discounts for eligible researchers at institutions in low- and lower-middle-income African countries. Research quality is the primary criterion for publication — financial barriers should not prevent African social scientists from contributing to global knowledge production.

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.

Submit Your Manuscript Now Contact the Editorial Team