Authors
Jafra D. Thomas, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, USA
Shannon R. Siegel, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Jill M. Maples, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Vivianne Felker, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Zoe Howard, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, USA
Shiina Tsuchiya, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Jorge Portillo, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Deanna Jun, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Alexis V. Willing, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, USA
James W. Navalta, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Matthew J. Garver, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri, USA
Joel D. Reece, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Lā’ie, Hawaii, USA
Dustin W. Davis, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
International Journal of Exercise Science 19(7): 7008, 2026.
DOI: 10.70252/IJES2026708
Abstract
While diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) principles support ethically responsible, cost-effective, evidence- supported health promotion and performance interventions, they are infrequently utilized within published biomedical/behavioral science research, including in kinesiology-specific journals. Because journal submission guidelines could increase integration of DEI principles’ application, we sought to develop a valid and reliable procedure to quantify DEI statements within kinesiology-related journal submission guidelines. The pilot study was conducted between 2023 and 2025. First, faculty investigators developed a codebook with good content validity (100% consensus achieved), then produced a written protocol and coding form to standardize the process. Undergraduate students pilot tested the coding procedures’ reliability at three pilot coding (PC) timepoints, testing inter- and intra-coder reliability. PC #1 and #2 tested intercoder reliability with 3 coders and 4 websites). Using a sample of 10 randomly selected peer-reviewed kinesiology journal websites (2023 Scimago index list), PC #3 tested intercoder reliability with five coders and also tested intracoder reliability (3-day wait period, 1 coder). Coders testing the procedures had good reliability: intercoder (substantial to almost perfect agreement; k-alpha = .63-.99); intracoder (almost perfect agreement; k-alpha = 1); 100% consensus was reached on all discrepancies. The preliminary findings of this pilot study suggest contemporary kinesiology journals provide little expectation that authors utilize DEI principles when designing and reporting their research. Only one of the 14 journals examined provided reporting guidelines for sex/gender variables; only one provided guidance for ensuring equitable research activities. Future researchers, and journal editors, should test the replicability of this pilot study’s findings.
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Jafra D.; Siegel, Shannon R.; Maples, Jill M.; Felker, Vivianne; Howard, Zoe; Tsuchiya, Shiina; Portillo, Jorge; Jun, Deanna; Willing, Alexis V.; Navalta, James W.; Garver, Matthew J.; Reece, Joel D.; Davis, Dustin W. (2026) “A Multi-Stage Pilot Study to Develop Procedures to Examine whether Kinesiology Journal Submission Guidelines Promote Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) within Kinesiology Research and Submitted Manuscripts,” International Journal of Exercise Science, 19(7):7008.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70252/IJES2026708