Information For Authors
About the Journal
The Thai Journal of Leisure and Recreation (TJLR) is an online scholarly journal published by the Thai Association for Leisure and Recreation (TALR). The journal aims to provide a platform for the dissemination and exchange of scholarly knowledge in Leisure and Recreation within both Thai and international contexts, while promoting high-quality and contemporary scholarship that connects social and cultural contexts and changing ways of life with broader international knowledge. The journal publishes original research articles, review articles, academic articles, and invited academic articles, and considers manuscripts written in Thai or English that have not been previously published and are not under consideration by another journal. Manuscripts that pass initial editorial screening undergo double-anonymous peer review by at least two qualified reviewers with relevant expertise. Reviewers assigned to the same manuscript must be affiliated with different institutions, and no reviewer may be affiliated with the same institution as any of the authors. The journal publishes two issues per year, covering January–June and July–December. The content, views, and opinions expressed in each article are solely the responsibility of the author or authors.
Scope
The journal considers manuscripts in which Leisure and Recreation constitute a central focus of inquiry and that contribute to the advancement of knowledge, understanding, theory, research methods, practice, or policy in Leisure and Recreation. The journal welcomes submissions addressing the following areas:
1. Concepts, theories, and foundations of Leisure and Recreation
Concepts, theories, philosophies, histories, disciplinary development, as well as the critique, synthesis, and advancement of knowledge in Leisure and Recreation.
2. Time, behavior, and experiences in Leisure and Recreation
Time allocation and patterns of time use, work–leisure relationships, time poverty, behaviors and experiences, meanings, motivations, participation, constraints, negotiation, access, as well as equity, justice, gender and gender diversity, social and cultural diversity, and social inclusion in Leisure and Recreation.
3. Play, traditional games, culture, and heritage in Leisure and Recreation
Play, games, traditional games, Thai traditional sports, festivals, traditions, arts and culture, local knowledge and ways of life, cultural heritage, community recreation, social and cultural recreation, as well as religion and social contexts related to Leisure and Recreation.
4. Outdoor Leisure and Recreation, nature, spaces, and the environment
Outdoor recreation, parks, public spaces, green spaces, recreation resources, human–nature relationships, sustainability, climate change, and environmental management in relation to Leisure and Recreation.
5. Digital Leisure and Recreation, technology, and contemporary forms
Digital media, video and online games, esports, social media, wearable technologies, virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies and new forms of Leisure and Recreation that influence experiences, behaviors, social relationships, and ways of life.
6. Sport, physical activity, tourism, arts and culture, and activities related to Leisure and Recreation
Sport, exercise and physical activity, tourism and travel, festivals and special events, arts, music, media, and other activities, provided that they are examined as phenomena or contexts meaningfully connected to Leisure and Recreation, rather than solely in terms of sport, health, tourism, or outcomes specific to another disciplinary field.
7. Leisure and Recreation, well-being, and quality of life across the lifespan
Leisure and Recreation among children, youth, adults, older adults, families, and diverse populations, including health-related recreation, therapeutic recreation, well-being, quality of life, health, identity, social relationships, coping, resilience, adaptation, and recovery from social change or crises.
8. Education, leadership, programming, and management in Leisure and Recreation
Learning and education, leadership, program design, implementation and evaluation, service provision, organizational and facility management, recreation space management, professional development, and workforce development in Leisure and Recreation.
9. Policy, planning, governance, and social development through Leisure and Recreation
Policy, planning, administration and governance, access to services, equity and social justice, community and local development, as well as the development of Leisure and Recreation systems at organizational, community, local, national, and international levels.
10. Theory, research methods, innovation, and interdisciplinary studies in Leisure and Recreation
The development of theories, conceptual frameworks, models, measurement instruments, assessment methods, and research methodologies, including interdisciplinary studies connecting Leisure and Recreation with the social sciences, behavioral sciences, health, sport, education, tourism, management, technology, arts and culture, environmental studies, and other related fields.
For manuscripts intersecting with sport, physical activity, health, tourism, education, technology, arts and culture, or other disciplines, Leisure and Recreation must constitute a substantive component of the research question, conceptual framework, analysis, interpretation, or findings of the manuscript. The use of recreational activities, sport, tourism, or leisure activities merely as a setting, sample, intervention tool, or research context, without a substantive connection to concepts, processes, or bodies of knowledge in Leisure and Recreation, will not be considered within the journal's core scope.
Types of Articles Considered for Publication
The journal considers manuscripts that align with its aims and scope. Manuscripts are classified into the following four article types:
1. Original Research Article: An article that presents original data and new findings from quantitative, qualitative (including ethnographic and community-based field research), or mixed-methods research, as well as research aimed at developing and evaluating programs, tests, measurement instruments, technologies, or innovations in Leisure and Recreation.
2. Review Article: An article that searches for, critically appraises, and synthesizes evidence from the literature using explicit and verifiable methods, including systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and meta-analyses.
3. Academic Article: An article that clearly defines a specific academic issue, reviews and synthesizes relevant literature, systematically analyzes the issue, and presents the author's perspectives, arguments, conceptual frameworks, or scholarly proposals that contribute to the advancement of the field, practice, or policy.
4. Invited Academic Article: An article that provides an overview of a field, analyzes and synthesizes major bodies of knowledge or important trends, and proposes conceptual frameworks, research agendas, or directions for scholarship, policy, or practice. Only manuscripts invited by the Editorial Board are considered under this category.
Peer Review Policy
1. Editorial Screening
The Editorial Board examines each manuscript for alignment with the journal’s aims and scope, compliance with manuscript requirements, preliminary academic quality, research ethics, and content overlap. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria are normally desk rejected by the Editor within seven days of receipt.
2. Peer Review
Manuscripts that pass initial editorial screening undergo double-anonymous peer review by at least two qualified reviewers with expertise relevant to the content of the manuscript. Each reviewer must be affiliated with a different institution, and none may be affiliated with the same institution as any of the authors. Reviewers must have no conflicts of interest, maintain confidentiality, and evaluate manuscripts fairly and on academic grounds. This policy applies to all article types, including invited academic articles.
3. Decisions and Timeline
Decisions are classified into four categories: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, and Reject. The journal normally completes the process from manuscript receipt to final decision within four months. This timeframe may vary depending on reviewer availability, the number of revision rounds, and the complexity of the manuscript. Authors will be informed if the process extends beyond the stated timeframe. Authors requested to revise a manuscript must submit the revised version together with a point-by-point response within the period specified by the journal.
4. Editorial Decision
The Editor makes the final decision based on the reviewers’ reports, the quality of the manuscript, and the authors’ responses. When reviewer assessments differ substantially, the Editor may appoint a third reviewer or seek additional advice from an editor or Editorial Board member with relevant expertise. Editorial decisions are not determined solely by a tally of reviewer recommendations.
5. Appeals
Authors may appeal a decision when they believe that a significant error has occurred in the review process, interpretation of facts, or handling of conflicts of interest. Appeals must include clear reasons and supporting evidence and must be submitted within the period specified by the journal. Disagreement with an academic opinion alone does not constitute sufficient grounds for an appeal. The appeal will be considered by an editor or Editorial Board member who was not involved in the original decision, and the outcome of the appeal will be final.
6. Editorial Conflicts of Interest
When an editor or Editorial Board member is an author of, or has a conflict of interest involving, a submitted manuscript, that individual must withdraw from all stages of the review process and must not have access to information concerning the manuscript’s review. The manuscript will be handled and decided upon by another editor or Editorial Board member who has no conflict of interest.
Publication Frequency
The journal publishes two issues per year: Issue 1 (January–June) and Issue 2 (July–December). Articles that have completed the peer-review, revision, and final manuscript preparation processes are published online in advance through the ThaiJO platform before being assigned to a scheduled issue.
Languages
The journal considers manuscripts written in Thai or English.
Submission and Publication Fees
The journal does not charge authors any fees at any stage of the manuscript review and publication process, for either Thai- or English-language articles. The absence of publication fees does not affect the journal’s standards of editorial screening, peer review, or editorial decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.