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OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research (OTJR), a leading research journal in occupational therapy published by AOTF, reflects the Foundation's commitment to advancing the profession through scientific inquiry. OTJR fosters interdisciplinary dialogue with contributions from disciplines such as psychology, neuroscience, economics, anthropology, sociology, geography, rehabilitation science, nursing, and social work. OTJR: Occupational Therapy of Research is indexed in MEDLINE/PubMed.

2024 OTJR Editorial: Year in Review and Plans for Growth, Timothy Wolf, Melanie M. Tkach and Melissa Knott.
Impact Factor
OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research is pleased to announce our 2024 Impact Factor is 1.5. The Journal Impact Factor is calculated by adding the citations in 2024 from articles published in 2022 and 2023 and dividing that total by the sum of the numbers of citable items published in 2022 and 2023. The 5-year Impact Factor is 1.7. Note: Starting with the 2020 Impact Factor, Clarivate has introduced Early Access content in Journal Citation Reports to more accurately reflect the dynamic citation environment of rapid online publication, phasing in further changes over three years. 

For access to articles published since 2002, to purchase complete issues of OTJR, or to access soon-to-be published articles please visit: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/otj 

Since January 2020, OTJR has moved to online-only for individual subscribers to the Journal, such as American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) members. The main benefits of moving subscribers to receiving the journal online only: Cost-savings to the subscriber, reduction in the number of trees cut down, manufacturing chemicals, water, and energy used to produce and ship. Access will not change; how readers read content will be consistent as in past years with our publisher SAGE.

Useful Resources:

• APA Style Journal Article Reporting Standards (APA Style JARS) offer guidelines on what information should be included in all manuscript sections for:
  • Quantitative research (JARS–Quant)
  • Qualitative research (JARS–Qual)
  • Mixed-methods research (JARS–Mixed)
• Reviewer Resources
  • How to Review Articles
  • OTJR provides peer reviewers the option to invite a Reviewer-in-Training (a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, early-career research assistant or associate) to serve as a co-reviewer. This is completely optional. This opportunity is afforded as an educational experience to the Reviewer-in-Training. The quality of the review is the responsibility of the lead reviewer and not of the Reviewer-in-Training. The Reviewer-in-Training will not receive any communications about the manuscript. The use of the contact information for the Reviewer-in-Training may be used to invite and authorize reviewer roles in the future.
• Subscriber FAQ's and Customer Service
• Special Issue Collection | Occupational Science Section
• Inclusive Language Guide
• Artificial Intelligence Policy | Using AI in peer review and publishing
• Plain Language Summaries of Publications

Submit Your Paper to OTJR

OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research will accept quantitative and qualitative research articles and systematic review papers that advance knowledge of occupation, and/or will lead to improving the lives of people at risk of being restricted from participating in activities and roles that have meaning to them. OTJR publishes data-driven research, meaning findings with or without statistical significance.

The following topics should guide authors seeking to publish in the journal:

• the relationship of occupation to health, well-being and or quality of life
• occupational development in all ages of the life-span i.e., the occupation of children, the importance of occupation in maintaining health in aging
• the influence of body systems or body function on occupational performance and or social participation
• the impact of life-style redesign or occupational choice on health and participation
• the effectiveness of occupation-based interventions
• the influence of the social, built, or natural environments on occupational performance or occupation (or vice versa)
• the impact of culture on occupation
• how human perceptions and or behavior, i.e. meaning, habits, roles, ritual, attitudes, feelings, influence occupation or occupational performance
• the psychometric properties of measures of occupation or occupational performance
• the impact or relationship of social policies and attitudes on occupation
• interventions that influence health, well-being, and or quality of life
• other topics that will lead to improving the lives of people as they seek to fully participate in family, work, community and society.

Authors have the option to publish Open Access in OTJR via our SAGE Choice program. Learn more about the costs and possible discounts or waivers through your institution.

For questions concerning the submission and review process to OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, please contact the journal editor: Timothy J. Wolf, OTD, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, otjreditor@aotf.org.

Advertising and Reprints: Current advertising rates and specifications may be obtained by contacting the advertising coordinator in the Thousand Oaks office at (805) 410-7772 or by sending an e-mail to advertising@sagepub.com. To order reprints, please e-mail reprint@sagepub.com. Acceptance of advertising in this journal in no way implies endorsement of the advertised product or service by SAGE, the journal’s affiliated society(ies), or the journal editor(s). No endorsement is intended or implied. SAGE reserves the right to reject any advertising it deems as inappropriate for this journal.

Background

OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research is published quarterly by Sage Publications for the AOTF and offers original research articles of professional interest to the occupational therapist. OTJR also features book reviews, letters to the editor, and forums proceedings manuscripts. The Foundation has an online index to articles published in OTJR.

OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research was developed as an expression of the Foundation’s commitment to advancing the profession through scientific inquiry. To advance the understanding of the role that occupation plays in fostering participation and enhancing health, the Foundation Board of Directors supported the name change to OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. This newly focused and redesigned journal made its debut with Volume 22, Number 1, Winter 2002. The journal makes public the commitment of the profession to the study of occupation, participation and health; and at the same time, fosters interdisciplinary dialogue with contributions from disciplines like psychology, neuroscience, economics, anthropology, sociology, geography, rehabilitation science, nursing and social work.

Editor 2021- Present: Timothy J. Wolf, OTD, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, University of Missouri
Editor 2015-2020: Sherrilene Classen, PhD, MPH, OTR, FAOTA, University of Florida
Editor 2012-2014: Kathleen Matuska, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Editor 2008-2012: Jane Case-Smith, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Editor 2005-2007: Helene Polatajko, PhD, OTR Reg(Ont), FCA
Editor 2001-2004: M. Carolyn Baum, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Editor 1998-2000: Bette Bonder, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Editor 1991-1997: Margaret Short-DeGraff, PhD, OTR/L
Editor 1987-1990: Kenneth Ottenbacher, PhD, OTR, FAOTA
Founding Editor 1980-1986: Charles Christiansen, EdD, OTR, FAOTA