Author Guidelines

Submission Requirements

The Westcliff International Journal of Applied Research (WIJAR) welcomes manuscript submissions from authors affiliated with Westcliff University as well as external institutions.

Before submitting your manuscript, carefully review the guidelines below and ensure that your submission complies with all formatting, ethical, and citation requirements Following the peer review process, manuscripts will receive one of the following editorial decisions:

  • Accepted
  • Accepted pending minor revisions
  • Accepted pending major revisions
  • Declined

Manuscripts that do not meet the submission requirements may be returned to the author for correction before entering the peer review process.

Submission Checklist 

Please confirm that your manuscript meets each of the following requirements before submission: 

Eligibility

  • Only one manuscript per author may be submitted each calendar year
  • The manuscript is original work that has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another publication
  • All sources properly cited in accordance with APA 7th edition

Research Ethics

  • Research involving human participants received approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Ethics Committee, or equivalent ethics review body before data collection began.
  • Research involving animal subjects received approval from an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Ethics Committee, or equivalent ethics review body before data collection began.
  • Proof of ethics approval must be provided at the time of submission, when applicable.

Manuscript Preparation

  • The manuscript has been carefully edited and is free of spelling, grammar, and formatting errors.
  • The manuscript does not exceed 5,000 words, excluding the title page.
  • The manuscript is submitted as a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) document
  • The manuscript file includes the abstract, main text, tables, figures, and references, but does not include the title page.
  • To preserve the integrity of the double-blind peer review process, remove all identifying information from the manuscript, including author names, affiliations, acknowledgements, and any self-identifying references.

Title Page

Upload the title page as a separate Microsoft Word document. The title page should include:

  • Full tile of the manuscript
  • Author(s)’ full name
  • Academic title(s) (e.g. PhD, MD, Ed.)
  • Institutional affiliation(s)
  • Department(s)
  • City and Country
  • Contact email address(es)
  • ORCiD for each author
  • Total manuscript word count
  • Disclosure of any conflicts of interest (or disclose during the online submisison process)

Supplementary Files

Manuscript Format

All manuscripts must adhere to the following formatting requirements:

  • APA 7th edition style
  • Times New Roman 12-point font
  • Double-spaced throughout, including references
  • No headers or footers
  • Include the full manuscript title at the top of the first page
  • Begin the manuscript with the abstract

Abstract

The abstract must:

  • Be between 100 and 300 words
  • Clearly summarize the purpose, methods, findings, and implications of the study
  • Include at least three key words

Manuscript Structure

Research articles should generally include the following sections:

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Literature Review
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion and Implications
  • Conclusion
  • References

Methods and Results should be clearly identified with appropriate APA headings

Headings

Use heading levels that conform to APA 7th edition guidelines Refer to examples provided in the WIJAR Resources section.

Heading Examples

Tables and Figures

Tables and figures should comply with APA 7th edition guidelines

  • Every table and figure is introduced and discussed within the text
  • Tables and figures appear as close as possible to their first citation in the manuscipt
  • Each table and figure includes a concise, descriptive title
  • Figures are designed to remain clear and legible after publication and possible size reduction
  • Tables are created using Microsoft Word’s Insert Table function rather than embedded images
  • All table columns include appropriate headings

References

References must:

  • Appear on a separate page at the end of the manuscript
  • Follow APA 7th edition formatting requirements
  • Be double-spaced
  • Be listed alphabetically by the first author’s last name
  • Reflect current and relevant scholarly literature. When appropriate, authors are encouraged to incorporate research published within the last five years.

Author Resources

Sample manuscripts, formatting examples, templates, and additional writing resources are available in the WIJAR Resources section. Authors with questions regarding manuscript preparation or formatting are encouraged to consult these resources before submitting their work.