Author Instructions

Journal Information

Contents

Instructions for Authors

Social Work Reviews: An International Journal welcomes high-quality, original submissions that contribute to the advancement of social work knowledge, practice, policy, and education. The journal publishes rigorous, ethical, and impactful scholarship with international relevance and strong theoretical, empirical, or practice-based foundations.

Authors are requested to read these Instructions for Authors carefully before submitting a manuscript. Submission of a manuscript implies that all authors have read, understood, and agreed to comply with the policies outlined below.

1. Scope and Aims of the Journal

Social Work Reviews publishes scholarly work that addresses local, national, and global dimensions of social work and allied disciplines. The journal encourages interdisciplinary, comparative, and cross-cultural research and prioritizes submissions that promote social justice, human rights, equity, and the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Social work theory, methods, and practice
  • Social policy, welfare systems, and governance
  • Community development and social change
  • Clinical and mental health social work
  • Child, family, youth, and aging studies
  • Gender, disability, migration, and diversity studies
  • Indigenous, decolonial, and Global South perspectives
  • Ethics, human rights, and social justice
  • Social work education and professional development
  • Research methods and evidence-based practice

2. Types of Manuscripts Accepted

The journal considers the following types of submissions:

  • Original Research Articles – empirical qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods studies
  • Review Articles – systematic, scoping, or critical reviews
  • Theoretical and Conceptual Papers
  • Practice-Based and Policy Analyses
  • Case Studies and Reflective Practice Papers
  • Book Reviews (by invitation or proposal)
  • Special Issue Contributions

3. Submission Guidelines

Manuscripts submitted to Social Work Reviews must:

  • Be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere
  • Be submitted by an author (third-party submissions are not permitted)
  • Have the approval of all listed authors
  • Comply with ethical standards and journal policies

Any overlap with previously published or submitted work must be disclosed at the time of submission.

4. Manuscript Preparation

4.1 Language and Style

Manuscripts must be written in clear, concise, and professional English. Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to seek language editing prior to submission.

4.2 Length

  • Research and review articles: typically 6,000–8,000 words, including references
  • Theoretical or practice papers: 5,000–7,000 words
  • Book reviews: 1,000–1,500 words

Longer manuscripts may be considered at the discretion of the editors.

4.3 Manuscript Structure

Manuscripts should be prepared in the following order:

  1. Title page (submitted separately)
  2. Abstract
  3. Keywords (4–6)
  4. Main text
  5. References
  6. Tables and figures (if applicable)
  7. Supplementary materials (if any)

5. Title Page (Submitted Separately)

To ensure double-blind peer review, the title page must be uploaded as a separate file and include:

  • Full manuscript title
  • Short running title
  • Full names of all authors
  • Institutional affiliations
  • ORCID iDs (where available)
  • Corresponding author’s name, email address, and affiliation
  • Acknowledgments and funding information

The main manuscript file must not contain any identifying information.

6. Abstract and Keywords

The abstract should be 150–250 words, clearly stating the purpose, methodology, key findings, and implications of the study. Avoid citations and abbreviations where possible.

Provide 4–6 keywords to facilitate indexing and discoverability.

7. Ethical Requirements

All submissions must comply with the journal’s Publishing Ethics policy.

Authors must include the following statements where applicable:

  • Ethics approval statement (name of ethics committee, approval number, date)
  • Informed consent statement
  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) statement
  • Clinical trial registration number (if applicable)
  • Conflict of interest declaration

Failure to meet ethical requirements may result in rejection.

8. Authorship and Contributions

Authorship must comply with ICMJE criteria. All authors must have made substantial contributions and approved the final manuscript.

The journal encourages the inclusion of an Author Contributions Statement outlining each author’s role in the study.

9. References and Citation Style

Social Work Reviews follows the APA (7th edition) referencing style.

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of all references. All sources cited in the text must appear in the reference list and vice versa.

10. Tables and Figures

Tables and figures must be cited in the text, numbered consecutively, and provided with clear titles and captions.

Figures should be of high resolution and submitted in editable formats where possible.

11. Peer Review Process

All submissions undergo an initial editorial screening followed by double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers.

Editorial decisions are based on originality, quality, relevance, methodological rigor, and ethical compliance.

12. Open Access and Copyright

Social Work Reviews is an open access journal. Authors retain copyright and articles are published under a Creative Commons license as outlined in the Open Access Policy.

13. Article Processing Charges (APCs)

Information regarding Article Processing Charges (if applicable) will be clearly communicated prior to submission. The journal does not charge submission fees.

14. Proofs and Publication

Accepted manuscripts are copyedited and typeset. Page proofs will be sent to the corresponding author for review and approval. Authors are responsible for checking accuracy and responding promptly.

15. Post-Publication Policies

Corrections, retractions, and post-publication discussions are handled in accordance with COPE guidelines.

16. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions or submit complaints by contacting the Editorial Office. All appeals are handled in line with COPE procedures.

Contact: info@researchfloor.org

By submitting a manuscript to Social Work Reviews: An International Journal, authors confirm that they have read and agreed to these Instructions for Authors.