Investigación & Desarrollo

Preliminar

Asistente Editorial Revista Investigación & Desarrollo — 2025-06-09

Commuting and quality of work life of teachers of the municipality of Mérida (Yucatán, México)

Brenda Torales Herrera — 2025-06-09

Objective: This study sought to examine the effects of commuting on teachers’ quality of work life. To contribute to the reflection on mobility as a socio-spatial practice. Commuting has a distinction in the routines of workers’ day life, and its importance bears on family, personal, and quality work life. This study aimed to understand if commuting, is related to teachers’ quality of work life. Commuting distance is the distance that teachers travel from their homes to their schools. Quality of work life has become an important concept, as more equitable sharing of profits, job security, and healthy and humane working conditions and on psychological adjustment and physical health. The present study was taken up to investigate primary school teachers of two Comisarías (Komchén and San José Tzal) that meet the condition of being located approximately eighteen kilometers from the center of Mérida, Yucatán.

Methodology: Qualitative methodology. The study corresponded to a total of 11 teachers’ Komchén Comisaría (10 women and 1 man) and 14 teachers’ San José Tzal Comisaría (8 women and 6 men); their interrelation in the perception of the teachers’ quality of work life. The data were collected using closed-ended questionnaires and commuting data. We conducted 25 individual interviews following an interview with Patlan’guide with broad open and close questions. All interviews were performed during school working hours in classrooms, sometimes with the students present. The interviews took place as conversations between teachers and researcher, or between teachers and researchers assistants, each lasting for 39 minutes. All the interviews were taped, recorded in field notes, and transcribed verbatim. The next research step: data on residence and workplace were used to estimate the distance commuting by modal transport from home to workplace using the Geographic Information Systems ArcMap 10.5 and projects of the private company Rutadirecta S.A. de C.V. and the Google Maps website. For the context of workplaces, we decided to build the accessibility index, and the Garrocho (2003) methodology was selected. The concept of accessibility has its origin in the discipline of transportation planning and is defined as the ease of reaching desired destinations (Hansen, 1959). A deeper look at this concept reveals that there is also the idea of ??accessibility as a spatial attribute of places or destinations (Gutiérrez, 2010). In the first case, accessibility is considered when the user wants to reach a destination efficiently (the priority is the users at the origin) and in the second case, we speak of the accessibility of the destinations (Garrocho, 2006). Data on distance commuting by car and by bus were taken. Then, using the National Statistical Directory of Economic Units (DENUE) data, the Comisarías were located, taking into account the number of workers in their economic units. The distance friction parameter “b” was calculated based on travel data obtained in the field. For the qualitative analysis, content analysis was used (Bardin, 2002), which consisted of breaking down the questionnaire responses to the based on the first order of the concepts of commuting and quality of working life. The guide for the categories of quality of working life followed the work of Patlán, 2017, and the Maxqda 2020 software served to organize the information into the dimensions that make up the quality of working life, which are articulated on the commuting experiences. It was then grouped into seventeen subcategories, that is, around these dimensions, everything that the interviewees expressed in each Comisaría was integrated; subsequently, the cores of meaning and their frequency of appearance were located to capture the teachers' perception about their quality of working life interrelated with their commuting experiences.

Results: In this study we found that teachers’Komchén have majority benefit due to their residential location. Teachers who work in the Comisaría located in the north of the city commuted short distances and durations: 6 to 20 km (81.8%), 6 to 20 minutes (63.7%), and 21 to 30 minutes (27.3%). The travel mode: car (81.8%), bus (9.1%). In this study, about the question ‘Do you think that your way of travelling improves your quality of life?’, we found that the majority of the teachers who travel to Komchén answered affirmatively (81.8%). On the other hand, teachers who work in the San José Tzal commuted long distances and durations: 21 to 30 km (42.9%), 21 to 30 minutes (35.7%), and 31 to 50 minutes (21.4%). The travel mode: car (78.6%), bus (7.1%). And of the teachers who travel to San José Tzal’ Comisaría, 71.4% consider that their commuting improves their quality of life. Accessibility gains are associated with car use, and since both comisarías are peripheral, similar values ??would be expected. The findings: high level of Accessibility index for workplaces’ teachers by car and by bus, and low level of Accessibility index for workplaces’ teachers by car and by bus. However, the differences found are explained by the privileged road infrastructure in the north to which Komchén belongs, its access is through the federal regional road system. For San Jose Tzal’comisaría it is through the rural road system, which has received little investment in real estate development because it crosses the ecological reserve. The teachers’ quality of work life perception points out that their work overload is a constant complaint that runs through all of the teachers' narratives, who stated that they spend from one hour or an hour and a half to three hours or more a day at home. In addition, three factors of the quality of work life are interrelated with commuting and residential mobility: job factors (economic remuneration and working conditions), individual factors (work-family balance and job satisfaction), and social-work environment (interpersonal relationships).

Conclusions: High level of accessibility index for workplaces’ teachers, public transport infrastructure, mobility resources, socioeconomic factors, job conditions, and strategies to reduce commuting distance by modifying residential/workplace location, overall increase teachers’ quality of working life.

The public budget and the protection of cultural heritage in Entre Ríos (Argentina), 2008-2023

Norma Elizabeth Levrand — 2025-06-09

Objective: Cultural heritage is a human right that is an integral part of cultural rights, which requires positive actions by the State to promote and guarantee access by its inhabitants. International instruments call for strengthening the financing of culture through a progressively increasing budget.

The Province of Entre Ríos, Argentina, reformed its Provincial Constitution in 2008, incorporated the recognition of the human right to culture, and established a percentage for its financing. Since then, several provincial laws related to cultural heritage have been enacted and updated. This paper establishes the degree of linkage between the framework of the legal regulation of cultural heritage protection and budget allocations to this area in Entre Ríos in the period 2008-2023.

Material and methods: The methodological design of this research is qualitative, combining content analysis and a descriptive-analytical analysis of budget allocations. For the analysis, the legal texts enacted during the period and the public budgets approved by the Legislative Branch were used. The timing of the study is based on the fact that the 2008 constitutional reform incorporates culture as a fundamental right and establishes that a minimum percentage (1%) of the public budget must be allocated to its financing.

Results: The characteristics of Argentine federalism as a socio-political phenomenon require a historically and geographically determined conceptualization. Concerning cultural heritage, a typical concurrence can be identified, since references to heritage can be found in jurisdictions at different levels (national, provincial, municipal).

Since the constitutional reform of 2008, the number of objects belonging to the cultural heritage of Entre Ríos has increased, as well as the number of actions related to this heritage. In addition to the provisions of the Provincial Constitution, the following laws have been enacted Law No. 10.911, which establishes a regulatory framework for tangible and intangible heritage; Law No. 10.740 for the rescue, protection, and promotion of the traditional culture of Entre Ríos, whose purpose is to preserve, protect, rescue, disseminate and promote all the traditional cultural expressions that constitute the heritage of identity; and Law No. 10.659 on Handicrafts, which incorporates the aspect of cultural heritage in its articles. All of them have the Secretariat of Culture as the implementing authority and provide for actions and functions to be carried out to implement these regulations. According to the legal texts, none of them provide specific allocations for the fulfillment of these purposes.

A detailed study of each budget can be carried out from two perspectives. On the one hand, these data can be organized from an institutional perspective, which is based on items ordered by purpose, function, and object of the public administration. These items are maintained over time and are those that make it possible to carry out the usual activities of the State. In the Province of Entre Ríos, these items are: personnel; consumer goods; non-personal services; goods for use, and transfers.

Another perspective is the functional aspect, which takes into account the allocation according to programs that, in many cases, exceed the administrative periods of each government and are maintained over time. These programs represent the activities or public policies carried out in a given period with a specific objective and may contribute to one or more institutions. In the budgets that have been analyzed, these programs allow us to distinguish at least two types of programs in the field of culture: on the one hand, those related to policies for access to and enjoyment of culture and creative productions, and on the other hand, those directly related to cultural heritage. These include custody and preservation of books and literary documents; protection of cultural heritage dependent on the provincial museums; archiving and preservation of official documents; promotion and development of artistic, and cultural activities and archiving of documents.

The results of the analyses of the public budget show an increase in legal regulations for the protection of cultural heritage in Entre Ríos in the period analyzed, although, in most of them, the actions are attended with the general budget allocations of the culture area of the provincial organization chart. In turn, an analysis of the budgets shows that the largest percentage of budget allocations is allocated to human resources. In functional terms, the programs that deal with cultural heritage institutions (museums and archives) have the highest percentage of the budget.

Conclusions: The analytical description of budget allocations allows us to understand the maintenance of cultural heritage protection functions through programs consolidated over time. This is consistent with the legislative changes that, despite the increase in regulations, concentrate protection actions.

Violence against women across diverse family structures: A comparative analysis

Franklin Alfonso Córdova Ramírez — 2025-06-09

Objectives: Violence is an extremely complex social phenomenon that involves social, political, economic, and cultural factors. This study is based on the premise that violence is not monolithic but manifests in different forms, and these forms can affect people, particularly women, in various ways depending on a variety of circumstances, including family structure. Historically, social norms have perpetuated violence, especially against women, due to unequal gender roles and entrenched patriarchal structures. The United Nations (UN) estimates that one-third of women worldwide have experienced some form of violence, whether physical, psychological, or sexual, with domestic violence being the most common. These alarming figures underscore the need for continued investigation into this issue from multiple perspectives to better identify its causes and consequences.

The primary objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of violence against women according to the type of family they belong to, in a vulnerable socioeconomic context, specifically in a human settlement in Lima, Peru. The study aims to understand how family characteristics, such as the composition and structure of the household, influence the frequency and forms of violence faced by women. The intention of the research is to provide relevant data that can serve as a foundation for designing public policies and intervention programs that are more effective in addressing gender-based violence, not only from a general perspective but also through the lens of family structure.

Materials and methods: To analyze the relationship between gender-based violence and family types, a quantitative, correlational approach was adopted. This approach allowed for an objective and detailed analysis of the magnitude of violence and its relationship with different family structures. A sample of 1,372 women living in a human settlement in Lima was selected through stratified random sampling, ensuring that various family types were adequately represented in the study, providing a diverse and representative sample. Two main instruments were used for data collection: structured surveys with scales, designed to measure and classify both domestic violence and family types. The first instrument focused on identifying the forms of violence experienced by women, categorizing the episodes of violence as physical, psychological, sexual, and economic. The second instrument aimed to identify the characteristics of the family environment, classifying families into three main types: nuclear, extended, and single-parent. These instruments enabled the precise collection of data regarding the frequency of different types of violence according to family type. The study was conducted over a specific period, and the confidentiality of the participants was ensured to protect their safety and integrity, which helped obtain reliable and valuable results on this social issue.

Results: The findings reveal that most of the women surveyed are between 50 and 60 years old, are divorced or separated, and have low educational levels, reflecting a context of social vulnerability that could contribute to their greater exposure to violence. The most prevalent form of violence was psychological, followed by physical violence. Psychological violence includes behaviors such as insults, humiliation, threats, and emotional manipulation, while physical violence encompasses bodily aggression, including hitting and even the use of objects. The study also shows that violence tends to occur predominantly within the family environment, with a higher risk for women belonging to nuclear and extended families. Women living in conditions of intermediate poverty also show a higher prevalence of violence in their households, suggesting that, in addition to family structure, socioeconomic conditions play a significant role in perpetuating gender-based violence. This finding is crucial for understanding how power and control dynamics within the household, influenced by poverty, contribute to gender-based violence. Another important result is that women from nuclear and extended families are more affected by violence than those from single-parent families. This difference may be explained by the power and control dynamics that are exerted within these family structures, where traditional gender roles are more entrenched, facilitating violence as a mechanism of control and domination over women.

Conclusions: The study confirms the existence of a significant prevalence of gender-based violence, particularly in its psychological and physical forms, among women living in human settlements. Women from nuclear and extended families, and those living in conditions of intermediate poverty, are the most affected by violence. These results highlight that family structure is a key factor in understanding gender-based violence, as power relations within the household vary according to family type, influencing the dynamics of violence. The study emphasizes the importance of further investigating the relationship between violence against women and family structure, as this is an area that has been relatively underexplored in academic literature. These findings are relevant to public policies and community interventions, as they indicate that violence prevention strategies must take into account the specific characteristics of women's family environments. It is not only necessary to address gender-based violence from a general perspective but also to consider the particularities of the family structures in which the victims live. In this sense, it is recommended that public policies and intervention programs be adapted to address the specific family dynamics that perpetuate violence. It is essential to educate families about gender equality, promote the economic autonomy of women, and provide psychological and legal support to victims. Likewise, it is crucial that public policies consider the demographic and social characteristics of the women most vulnerable to violence in order to offer solutions that are effective and inclusive. This study offers a better understanding of the relationship between gender-based violence and family types, showing that family structure is an indicator of the prevalence and forms of violence women experience. It is hoped that these findings will contribute to the design of more effective policies and programs for the prevention and eradication of gender-based violence in vulnerable social contexts.

Knowledge and image, an approach to the prevention of consumption of psychoactive substances in school-aged adolescents

Juan Carlos Chaves-Yepes — 2025-06-09

The consumption of psychoactive substances (PAS) continues to be a problem of interest for its study and management, its increase is visible as are the new and different forms of access and entry to the market. The probability of consumption is linked to multiple factors, and influenced by different environments and contexts. In this dynamic of supply and demand for SPA, both legal and illegal, adolescents appear as linked actors, generally, from a degree of vulnerability and risk, and considering the different environments in which they develop, the school takes relevance both for thinking about the problem of consumption, as well as for identifying prevention strategies.

Objective: Under this problematic framework, the objective of this article is to interpret elements linked to the consumption of SPA that a group of school-aged adolescents takes into account to generate graphic representations of prevention.

Materials and methods: This study corresponds to the qualitative approach, which allows us to approach the understanding of the social events of the participating subjects, interpreting the perspectives that emerge from the reflection processes on the topic of study; a type of research that is understood as a situated activity, directed by interpretive practices to approach routine problems and meanings in the lives of individuals. Adolescents between the ages of 14 and 17 participated in the research, linked to secondary education in a Public Educational Institution in the Yacuanquer, sector in the department of Nariño (Colombia). To guarantee the integrity of the participants, the signing of informed consent was taken into account and the authorization of the student's parents was obtained.

The fieldwork began when the educational institution issued the endorsement for the development of the project. The directives defined that work be done in assigned hours for the development of student social work (academic requirement), thus the project was inserted as an institutional option for the students. Once registered, informed consent was signed, and also authorization from their parents. Six virtual meetings were held in which the topic of SPA consumption was worked on. As a workshop, the exchange of knowledge between participants was made possible, as well as prevention actions from peers. In these spaces, initially, the knowledge and previous experiences on the topic (knowledge) were investigated, and subsequently, feedback was provided from the research team (as a way of reinforcement and awareness).

Two techniques were used to collect information: observation and drawing; the first was implemented in the meetings that took place virtually through the MEET platform, due to the isolation rules defined by the health emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In these meetings, group activities were developed from which, as a way of field notes were extracted from what the participants said about their knowledge and reactions to SPA consumption; the second, implemented to approach the dominant representations and discourses on the topic of consumption, and also to understand the link of these images with personal and social aspects of the participants, drawing was also considered as a form of impact in the context close to the students because the graphic productions were shared with classmates. The analysis of data collected in the group meetings was generated through a content analysis process, which allows permanent return to the data for the generation of interpretations, and under a coding process, the appearance of inductive categories was achieved. In the specific case of the drawings, they were subjected to analysis under the methodology proposed by Ayala and Koch (2019), taking the following stages of the analytical process: 1) contrast, 2) visualization, and 3) coding. In both cases, the qualitative data analysis software Atlas.ti version 8 was used.

Results: As for the results, these show preventive actions linked to a public health model in which graphic representations are built that show two central prevention trends: one focused on knowledge about SPA consumption and another on the valuation of life; In the first, the significant elements regarding the knowledge (knowledge) of adolescents about SPA are condensed, taking into account four aspects: a) definitions of SPA, b) causes of consumption, c) effects of consumption and d) typologies of substances; In the second trend, what was expressed by the participants indicates that the information provided to others through the drawings plays an important role in prevention, and here two relevant perspectives appear: a) based on knowledge about SPA, and b ) focused on valuing life. In the two central tendencies, there are aspects of emotional advertising for the mobilization of change behaviors in their peers, that is, it is found that there are graphic elements that incite an emotion.

Conclusions: It is concluded that the study constitutes an approach to the peer-to-peer prevention experience, allowing us to approach the experiences and meanings generated by SPA consumption in adolescents. A psychosocial conception of the problem appears as the basis for issuing preventive actions in an adolescent group. Regarding the graphic representations, it is concluded that the emotional component is relevant for the transmission of a message and therefore the group appeals to the mobilization of emotions such as fear and joy to incite a change in consumer behavior.

The role of communication for social change in community health processes. Analysis of three case studies in Colombia

Yaneth Ortiz-Nova — 2025-06-09

Objective: This article analyzes the role of communication for social change in three cases of community health developed in the cities of Medellin, Barranquilla and Bogota, Colombia (2019-2022). These processes recognize local forms of social organization, community leadership, and communicative practices in diverse urban sociocultural networks, through the identification of communicative practices aimed at social transformation processes; understanding the role of the subjects as agents of social change in the context of the three initiatives and the recognition of new conceptions of communication for social change as a fundamental element of community health and the enjoyment of life in local environments.
Materials and methods: The research is addressed from the hermeneutic-interpretative approach, with qualitative methodology through case studies methods and research techniques such as documentary review and virtual semi-structured interviews that were applied to officials, promoters, and walkers of the Health Institutions, professionals from the universities and co-participants in the formulation of the programs carried out.
Results: The strategic vision of the three case studies on health communication consists of transforming the objectives of informing and disseminating to the creation of social knowledge appropriation processes through activities that lead communities to adopt, experiment, and propose actions for prevention and health promotion based on the new knowledge acquired and practicing it in daily life. This concept is developed in the communication area as an element of community health and the enjoyment of life in local environments, through which the population achieves a leading role, together with health officials, promoters, walkers, doctors, and nurses, triggering processes of social transformation.
Conclusions: The programs “Parque de la Vida” in Medellín, “Caminantes de la Salud” in Barranquilla, and “Gestores de la Salud” in Bogotá, conceive health as a commitment to social and individual well-being, where the communication/health binomial occupies a central place, accompanied by education on citizens' rights and community participation, key to its strengthening. From communication, processes are generated not only for information, but also for awareness, knowledge, and mobilization.
In the three cases analyzed, the interviewees mentioned the importance of health activities led by the different governmental, academic, and community entities regarding "Community Health" and "Communication for Social Change" concepts. This has been achieved by articulating institutional and multisectoral projects with the community, establishing a network-like communication between the different governmental and non-governmental entities, mayors and community leaders, and the population in general. During the research, we found empowered social subjects who recognize the value of their work in the health community. Health campaigns involve the population through communicative events for social transformation that allow cultural mediation of the message. The population demands intervention in their needs and communicates this through the leaders. Participation is present at all levels. Finally, it should be noted that during the pandemic, ICTs became the means of dissemination and community participation in the three cases investigated. WhatsApp was the main channel of communication with the localities, this became the opportunity for health managers to enhance their professional work in community health, adapting and resisting, despite the weakening of some processes that were isolated by the confinement. Today, the work proposed by the three experiences is beginning to recover.

Ontological insecurity and migration: A critical analysis of uprootedness

carlos fernando parra moreno — 2025-06-09

Objectives: This research critically examines the role of ontological insecurity as a driver of population uprooting, with a focus on how structural inequality – evaluated through indicators such as the Gini index and the income share of the top 10% – directly influences migration trends. By examining how economic disparities create conditions conducive to population displacement, the study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how insecurity impacts an individual’s decision to either settle or seek opportunities abroad. The study operates within the theoretical framework of structural inequality and uses ontological security as a key measure of social cohesion and population retention.

Materials and methods: Employing a quantitative methodology, this research utilizes a multivariate analytical approach supported by factor analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Data from the World Bank served as the primary source for variables such as Gini coefficients, income distribution within the top 10% of earners, and incarceration rates, which provide a proxy for social conflict. SEM was employed to construct and test the causal relationships among structural inequality, ontological insecurity, rootedness, and social conflict. Factor analysis explored the dimensional structure of variables related to economic inequality, ontological security, and migration, grouping them into latent factors that could reveal underlying patterns. Furthermore, the study accounted for confounding factors by integrating socioeconomic and conflict-related indicators to isolate the effects of ontological security on migration patterns.

Results: The findings reveal a significant relationship between structural inequality and ontological insecurity, suggesting that regions with pronounced income disparities experience higher levels of insecurity and, consequently, increased emigration rates. The Gini index emerged as a critical factor, with higher values correlating strongly with ontological insecurity and social conflict. The data indicate that populations experiencing high-income concentration within the top 10% exhibit greater ontological insecurity, which, in turn, is associated with increased emigration. Structural inequalities, as reflected in income distribution and resource access, were shown to impact not only individual security perceptions but also social cohesion, which can intensify social conflict. The analysis suggests that social conflict, represented here by incarceration rates, is both a direct and indirect product of ontological insecurity, further exacerbating social fragmentation and migration tendencies. The study's model showed robust explanatory power in linking ontological insecurity to the increase in emigration percentages, where individuals experiencing relative deprivation seek more stable and equitable environments elsewhere.

Additionally, the analysis found that structural inequality, as measured by both the Gini index and income concentration within the top 10%, serves as a potent predictor of ontological insecurity and migration. In settings marked by stark income inequality, populations often perceive societal structures as unstable or inherently unjust, leading to feelings of insecurity that drive individuals to consider relocation. This perception of inequality fosters a sense of dislocation, where individuals no longer feel anchored or secure in their home environment. The findings illustrate how ontological insecurity can be exacerbated by observable economic disparities, creating a feedback loop where insecurity promotes migration, thereby diminishing social cohesion and increasing the incidence of conflict. High incarceration rates, used here as an indicator of social conflict, reflect the breakdown of social structures in contexts of elevated inequality, suggesting that ontological insecurity may lead not only to migration but also to rising conflict within remaining populations.

Conclusions: This study suggests that ontological insecurity, fostered by structural inequality, significantly impacts social cohesion, migration, and conflict. The perception of inequality, particularly when observed through the lens of relative deprivation theory, reveals that individuals are more likely to migrate if they perceive an inequitable resource distribution in their environment. Relative deprivation theory posits that individuals assess their personal success and well-being not only on absolute measures but also about others, meaning that observable gaps in wealth or access to resources can heighten feelings of insecurity and prompt migration. In a context where the top 10% disproportionately benefit from available resources, those outside this bracket experience heightened insecurity that manifests in both increased migration and conflict.

The study also highlights the centrality of ontological security as a latent variable that mediates the relationship between structural inequality and social outcomes. Ontological insecurity arises in contexts of pronounced inequality, where individuals lack the basic sense of stability and confidence needed to feel rooted in their environment. This insecurity, in turn, disrupts social cohesion, leading to both increased migration and heightened social conflict. Social cohesion relies on a foundation of equitable resource distribution, which mitigates perceptions of insecurity and promotes rootedness. In contrast, the erosion of ontological security in unequal societies fosters a sense of alienation, where individuals no longer feel a part of the larger social fabric. As inequality rises, so does the likelihood of conflict, as social fragmentation leads to distrust and disillusionment with societal structures. By linking these factors, the study underscores how structural inequality and ontological insecurity contribute to the erosion of societal stability, creating a cycle of uprooting and conflict.

The findings align with theories of relative deprivation and class struggle, suggesting that the decision to migrate is not solely an economic calculation but also an expression of perceived social injustice. Ontological insecurity, shaped by unequal resource distribution, acts as a catalyst for social conflict and migration. This study contributes to the literature on migration by situating ontological security within a structural inequality framework, highlighting how perceptions of inequality drive individuals to seek opportunities in environments with higher ontological security. For policymakers, these findings underscore the importance of addressing income inequality and promoting equitable access to resources to strengthen social cohesion and mitigate migration.

Future research could explore the intersection of ontological security, inequality, and migration in greater detail, examining the specific mechanisms through which economic disparities disrupt social cohesion. Additionally, comparative studies across regions with varying degrees of income inequality and migration rates could provide further insights into how structural inequalities manifest in diverse social and cultural contexts. Understanding the role of ontological insecurity in migration may also inform the development of social policies aimed at enhancing resource distribution and reducing income concentration to promote rootedness within populations. This study demonstrates that ontological security, when compromised by structural inequality, not only influences migration but also exacerbates social conflict, suggesting that addressing inequality is crucial for fostering a cohesive, stable society.

Socioeconomic and environmental factors influencing the formulation of tourism projects in Florencia (Caquetá, Colombia)

Dayro Alexander Sánchez Henao — 2025-06-09

Objective: To define influencing factors in the formulation of tourism projects in the municipality of Florencia (Caquetá, Colombia).

Methodology: For the development of this article, data collection was carried out using a non-probabilistic sampling method, selecting: 1. Nature Tourism (TN) ventures in the municipality mentioned (the locality chosen for analysis), and 2. Professionals involved in the formulation of conservation and sustainable tourism projects (identified as local experts); these two samples were subject to analysis, complemented by a literature review and the application of techniques such as surveys and interviews, which provided information that was subsequently systematized using SPSS and Atlas.ti software. This process allows for presenting qualitative results with greater analytical capacity.

Results: The importance and necessity of social, economic, and environmental factors were compiled and identified in the project formulation process. In this sense, the contribution of each factor is argued, and their orientation towards strengthening local capacities in the territories, particularly in Florencia (Caquetá) is emphasized. There is a need for the development of TN initiatives, an activity seen as a catalyst in underdeveloped and forgotten territories.

In coherence, the study begins by recognizing the natural and cultural heritage of the municipality under analysis, which stands out for various demographic and geographic characteristics that make it attractive for tourism activities. While authors like Garzón and De Val Martín (2022) recognize the potential of TN, it is also necessary to emphasize the need to generate actions that conserve its diversity. Thus, it is crucial to delimit social, economic, and environmental aspects that lead to benefits for stakeholders, the population, and the territory as a whole.

Specific categories of analysis are considered; first, the social component, which includes territorial valuation, is viewed as a planning axis that contextualizes the territory by considering the various actors and their respective needs in space and time (Molinares and Díaz, 2022); followed by the formation of TN, territorial planning, and management —three components that strengthen local capacities. The latter is a pressing need for this territory, as Sánchez et al. (2021) affirm that “there is an urgent need to develop awareness and environmental consciousness actions through environmental education processes” (p. 12).

These categories also contribute to the valuation of the territory, encompassing an understanding of this concept from a social and cultural construction perspective. Continuing, tourism promotion approaches and community participation are considered, acting as emphatic tools to understand community needs and thus improve the management of natural wealth. It is essential to indicate that local community participation in tourism development addresses sustainability issues and contributes to image building (Pascoli, 2021).

Additionally, the articulation of actors in the value chain is included in the analysis, who contribute to boosting tourism and promoting local appropriation (Álvarez and Lavao, 2022). All these criteria, combined with the involvement of political actors, build tools and unify public policies in favor of TN development, an aspect that leads to recognizing the current state of the territory and the needs to be addressed (Sánchez, 2023; López and Balanta, 2022; Velásquez, 2017; Sandoval, 2023).

Secondly, recognition, income generation, and regional development are presented as benefits derived from economic factors that foster growth and development for the population. The study analyzes economic growth and consolidation, the level of tourism development, the creation of tourist routes, positioning, and local development. These categories collectively contribute to community needs and define how to enhance participation in spaces. A noteworthy aspect is that the study community is largely knowledgeable and has been involved in TN projects, indicating interest in cooperating with the municipality's tourism development (Narváez et al., 2023; Contreras, 2021; MinCIT, 2022).

Thirdly, environmental factors were considered. Fernández et al. (2022) indicate that TN must be managed by the community to promote conservation and define concepts of control and mitigation of biodiversity damage while maximizing qualitative benefits for the territory and its population. This includes promoting TN practices, environmental conservation, and sustainability, raising environmental awareness, and developing and valuing heritage, which integrate the analysis categories of this factor. In general terms, it is indicated that generating environmental strategies and promoting tourism create visibility (Tomalá, 2022); thus, topics such as space organization and the use of tourist potential attractions are addressed, which aligns with environmental conservation and sustainability, representing positive environmental impacts.

This aims to conserve the available heritage and consequently reduce social inequality gaps in a territory that has been a victim of Colombia's internal conflict (Caquetá), which in turn broadens the territory's exposure; this last aspect is one of the most important variables for generating TN projects, as conserving environments allows for displaying an image consistent with TN objectives.

In addition, these factors collectively reveal that environmental conservation and sustainability are related to the articulation of tourism value chain members, focusing on: a) strengthening governance for tourism development; b) generating a unique culture; c) linking organizations, corporations, and universities; and d) collective interest in positioning Florencia as a TN destination. The priority for territories should involve a sustainable relationship between humans and nature (Tamayo, 2023).

Conclusion: In summary, the studied social factors include: 1. Visibility of the territory, and 2. Benefits and income for local communities and value chain members. Economic factors reduce gaps in inequality, ignorance, and lag concerning communities, the territory, and TN activities. In environmental factors, the need to link economic practices with ecosystem conservation is highlighted; thus, TN initiatives should prioritize natural and strategic areas through proper protection and management.

Development mechanisms and models for TN must be adapted to generate projects and strategies that align with nature preservation, based on planning associated with the analyzed factors, which build, enhance, formalize, and train TN in the municipality. This is achieved through the use of tools that support and govern appropriate functioning based on the conservation, management, and training of physical, economic, social, and environmental resources. Ultimately, each of the components in the three analyzed fields serves as a starting point to promote activities that favor TN, focusing on the care and preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the municipality of Florencia.

Knowledge of Mathematics teachers on the road to inclusive education

Manuela Morales Cardona — 2025-06-09

Objective: Contribute to the understanding of inclusive education at the level of knowledge of mathematics teachers that enable or limit its applicability in school contexts, considering that in diverse school settings, mastery of mathematical content is not enough, but also requires an understanding of how students learn mathematics, the use of effective pedagogical strategies, and the ability to adapt lessons according to the specific needs of students. And in this complex interaction, the teachers' knowledge system plays a crucial role. Teaching knowledge and discourse play a fundamental role because they are directly related to the learning and academic achievements of students, enhancing motivation and strengthening the prerequisites necessary for training.

Materials and methods: The research was based on the interpretive-hermeneutic paradigm and the descriptive-level qualitative approach. A double method was used that complements each other according to the interests of the researchers. On the one hand, the case study is characterized by delving into specific cases, allowing a holistic understanding of complex situations in their natural context, and on the other, discourse analysis, which aims to reveal the meanings and meanings of oral texts and writings. Three mathematics teachers from a public educational institution in Medellín (Colombia) participated in a voluntary and informed manner, to whom a semi-structured interview protocol consisting of 23 questions was applied considering four dimensions of analysis within the framework of inclusive education: pedagogical, curricular, experiential, and disciplinary knowledge. The data were analyzed through a coding and categorization process, based on units of analysis ?in vivo texts? relevant to the object of study. This coding was done at three levels following with the methodological guidelines of grounded theory: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. With the data obtained, semantic networks were created, that is, relational meaning schemes that allow explaining the reality under study.

Results: Five inductive categories represented in semantic networks were identified, which brought together 172 recurrences and 132 relationships between codes —densities—, related to different types of teaching knowledge within the framework of the discipline of mathematics and inclusive education. Each category is fed by a set of axial codes, 14 in total, which can be interpreted as large thematic lines that largely describe each type of teaching knowledge studied. In addition to the knowledge considered a priori —pedagogical, disciplinary, curricular, and experiential and contextual—, another type of relevant knowledge was identified: contextual knowledge. For participating teachers, properly interpreting the context in which teaching takes place is essential to adapt and personalize inclusion strategies. This knowledge encompasses a deep understanding of the specific characteristics and dynamics of each classroom, as well as the school environment as a whole with cultural dynamics, life experiences, and individual needs. This knowledge allows teachers to create environments in which differences are valued and made visible, which can only occur if external factors are considered, such as available resources, educational policies, and the expectations of the school community. This contextual knowledge is manifested in the teachers' ability to adapt their pedagogical approaches and teaching strategies according to the specific circumstances of their environment. It involves being attuned to the changing realities of teaching-learning environments at the school community and making informed decisions based on that knowledge. Even so, from a broad perspective, it is observed that teachers base their teaching practices on limited and reductionist knowledge, which prevents them from challenging the pre-established barriers and approaches that support their inclusive educational practice. Indeed, although their knowledge has been forged over the years through direct experience in educational spaces and interaction with diverse students, that is, informal and practical knowledge, rooted in empirical observation and intuition pedagogically, the need to complement this comprehensive structure with a solid theoretical and scientific base is evident. The theoretical foundation can provide a conceptual framework that deepens the understanding of the processes underlying inclusive education, allowing for more informed and strategic decision-making. In this sense, based on the findings of this study, the integration of research and theory in the teaching practice of inclusive education is advocated to further enrich and strengthen the commitment of teachers. Inclusive education requires a more flexible and diversified pedagogical approach, where teachers not only master their discipline but also develop solid pedagogical competencies and a deep understanding of the needs of their students. This involves moving beyond the passive transmission of knowledge and adopting more interactive and student-centered pedagogical approaches. To overcome this challenge, mathematics teachers must recognize the importance of combining their disciplinary knowledge with solid training in inclusive pedagogy. It also involves learning to differentiate instruction, adapt teaching strategies, and use resources that make mathematics accessible and meaningful to all students, regardless of their skills and abilities.

Conclusions: Teachers must reflect on their knowledge within the framework of recognition of diversity; that is, starting from their own experiences, contexts, and stories to favor how students can approach the discipline and learn, beyond having a precise understanding of the normative implications that inclusive education entails and how to guarantee their compliance. This encompasses not only a commitment to its theoretical epistemological understanding but also the application of didactic, practical, and diversified knowledge in the teaching of mathematics, assumed from the will as a value and as a principle in the practice of teaching. Now, it should be highlighted that the social responsibility of mathematics teachers in the context of inclusive education is of vital importance because, throughout history, mathematics has been a field of knowledge that, at times, has marginalized specific groups of people, such as those with disabilities, ethnic minorities, or non-hegemonic gender identities. Therefore, it is up to the teacher to commit to building an inclusive mathematics educational environment, where the diversity of students is recognized and celebrated. This implies guaranteeing that all students have equal opportunities to participate as part of an assumption of social responsibility that guides the profession because from there it contributes to making a more equitable and fair society.

Opening the Social Sciences: Historical Sociology from Latin America

Franco Riquelme — 2025-06-09

Latin American Sociology has been characterized since the last century by offering a range of theories and methodologies to study the social experiences of our continent. Most sociologists in Latin America have had a heterogeneous, hybrid training that ranges from the fields of Economics, Political Science, Anthropology, Historiography, and Demography (what I will generally call Social Sciences). In this article, I propose to make a general presentation of concepts and themes such as the definition of Latin America, the current debate on 'situations of dependency', the role of intellectuals, and the question of democracy. The methodological approach I develop is Historical Sociology, which has been a pioneering practice in classical intellectuals of Latin America, either explicitly or implicitly when studying social changes and making comparisons at different scales (national, continental, and planetary). It is from this methodological proposal that I have made a series of problematizations that revolve around the conceptualization of Latin America, the academic institutionalization of sociology within the social sciences, the theory of dependency, and the ups and downs of the long 20th century that it has oscillated in a large part of Latin American territory between authoritarianism, democracies, and military-bourgeois dictatorships.

Historical review of Sustainable Human Development through reports from the United Nations Development Programme

Guadalupe Yolanda Valenzuela Morales — 2025-06-09

The main objective of this article is to provide a historical overview of the concept of Sustainable Human Development, primarily considering its evolution and application in the reports of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). To achieve this, the terms Human Development and Sustainable Development were addressed as the conceptual foundation, supported by their three fundamental pillars: social, economic, and environmental. The review of both concepts was conducted based on the content analysis method, using two methodological axes: the first axis involved information produced in specialized documents on human development and sustainable development. The second axis involved the analysis of Sustainable Human Development (SHD) through the review of the United Nations Development Programme reports, from 1990 to 2020, to determine the origin and evolution of this concept.

Initially, these reports evaluated human progress in terms of health, education, and standard of living, but over time they have evolved to include the environmental component through sustainability. From the reports, we can observe how the UNDP has addressed three dimensions: economic, social, and environmental. These dimensions are interdependent and mutually influential, emphasizing the need for an integrated and balanced approach to sustainable human development. By considering these dimensions, the reports encompass topics such as security, poverty, human rights, water, climate change, inequality, sustainability, vulnerability, work, and inclusion, among others. These themes reflect the concerns and priorities of the international community, as well as the demands and aspirations of individuals.

From the environmental dimension, sustainable human development implies that people can live in a healthy, safe, and diverse environment that provides them with the resources and ecosystem services that sustain their life and well-being. However, human development is neither neutral nor harmless; it has effects and consequences on the environment, which can be positive or negative. Therefore, the UNDP has addressed different environmental issues and aspects of human development, such as water, climate change, sustainability, and resilience. These highlighted aspects represent the risks and opportunities that the environment poses for human development, as well as the responsibilities and commitments it entails. The United Nations Development Programme has proposed measures and indicators that incorporate the environmental dimension into human development. One such measure is the Human Development Index Adjusted for Environmental Pressures, which reflects the impact of human activities on the environment. Additionally, the UNDP has suggested policies and strategies to promote a more environmentally respectful, efficient, and resilient human development. These include improving natural resource management, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to the effects of climate change, and transitioning toward a green and low-carbon economy.

The economic dimension in sustainable human development means that people can access resources, income, and economic opportunities that allow them to meet their basic needs and improve their quality of life. However, economic development is not an end in itself but a means for human development. Therefore, the UNDP has proposed measures and indicators that go beyond per capita income, such as the Human Development Index, the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index, and the Labor-adjusted Human Development Index. These measures and indicators aim to capture the added value of economic development to human development, as well as the losses and impacts it can generate.

According to the social dimension, sustainable human development entails that people can enjoy services, rights, and social opportunities that allow them to develop their capacities and potential, as well as actively participate in political, cultural, and community life. However, social development is neither homogeneous nor automatic; it depends on the conditions and social structures that favor or hinder it. Therefore, the UNDP has addressed different social issues and aspects of human development, such as security, poverty, human rights, the Millennium Development Goals, inequality, the rise of the South, vulnerability, and inclusion.

After the historical review of the origin and evolution of Sustainable Human Development (SHD), it can be asserted that international conferences, summits, and meetings among national leaders, as well as reports from various national and international bodies, have not achieved common objectives for all countries to attain SHD. The focus continues to be on the individual growth of each nation, without considering that environmental degradation, economic progress, and population well-being are interconnected. Natural disasters do not discriminate based on SHD indicators; their impact is equally devastating for nations with low SHD levels. However, it’s worth noting that countries with high SHD will have more social, economic, and environmental tools to address and be resilient in the face of the climate crisis. Reports, summits, and even sustainable development goals are tools that currently outline what nations should do to become more sustainable. However, they lack universally applicable methodologies and guide decision-makers on how to build more sustainable communities, reduce poverty, eliminate hunger, and ensure quality education for all, among other objectives. There must be information about the impact of decisions made by various sectors: society, businesses, governments, and academia. This information should foster shared responsibility and coordinated efforts across these sectors to achieve the long-awaited SHD. While several documents and reports already highlight the impacts of erroneous decisions, action is needed at all levels to mitigate environmental degradation resulting from the need for improved economic growth and well-being. The creation of SHD was driven by the need to shift paradigms regarding economic growth, social well-being, and environmental care. This change primarily involves a shift in principles and values within humanity a dynamic process that will take time unless proactive measures are taken.Top of Form

The historical study of sustainable human development in the UNDP shows the richness and relevance of this concept, whose purpose is to determine strategies and tools to improve people’s capabilities and living conditions in its three dimensions, both in the present and the future. Sustainable human development is a holistic and integrated approach that recognizes the interdependence between the economic, social, and environmental dimensions, acknowledging that policy plays a fundamental role; it also seeks the well-being of all people and the planet. Sustainable human development is, ultimately, a challenge and an opportunity to build a more just, prosperous, and peaceful world.

Getting to the poor cousin's house: Parenting experiences of Venezuelan migrant mothers in Medellín (Colombia)

Alexandra González Mora — 2025-06-09

Objective: The research article presents the findings of a study on the parenting experiences of Venezuelan migrant mothers who live in the Nueva Villa de la Iguaná neighborhood of the city of Medellín (Colombia). In this work, Colombia is considered the poor cousin of Venezuela. The connotation of a poor cousin's house is understood as a place of refuge, which in addition to sharing a border with Venezuela, also shares conditions of social inequality, situations of poverty, and experience of adverse circumstances such as drug trafficking and violence between guerrillas, paramilitaries and the State. In that sense, this study understood that the domestic space is a political issue, as it is related to the individual and family rights of women in vulnerable conditions.

Method: This was a qualitative study that allows an approach to social realities through the narratives of people's subjective experiences in specific contexts. From this approach, everyday life and interactions between participants and researchers are valued. The method was phenomenological in nature and guided the analysis of the subjective experience of 15 women who are part of a psychosocial care project led by one of the authors. These women were invited to participate in 5 focus groups to discuss the recognition of the social, political, economic, and sex-gender forces that crosscut their experiences. The focus group consists of a group strategy coordinated by the researchers, using questions or statements that provoke comments from the attendees. Dialogues between them are highlighted to prevent the focus group from becoming a group interview. With the same group, 5 meetings were held to deepen each topic a perspective of the parenting experiences amid their situation as a migrant family in Colombia. Synthetically, the themes for each focus group were: territory; living arrangements during the pandemic; domestic space, and mothers' parenting experience. Each mother's verbalization was freely allowed without a limited time since the objective was to address the suggested topic. Participant observation was also privileged, and the way to systematize the observation material was through the diary or memo. The transcriptions of the recordings were added to this material for analysis based on a categorical system that guided the presentation of results. The categories were: migratory context and domestic space, to identify the characteristics of the forms of housing, socio-spatial conditions, and aspects of migratory experiences at a transnational level; uncertainty regarding the future and the parenting process, which refers to issues that question life possibilities in the short and medium term and the effects of this on the care of children; Survival and upbringing in contexts of drug trafficking and violence, alludes to the narratives of struggle and situations that required changes in the relationships with the territory and the direction in the education of children.

Results: From the first theme, migratory contexts of poverty stand out, both in the country of origin and in the place where they arrive. Hence, it is a process affected by economic, political, and social conditions that only differ in some specific aspects about the place of arrival. The domestic space is affected precisely because there are fewer guarantees in a country where they arrive without employment and with difficulties in formalizing the documentation that would facilitate access to legal work contracts and health.

Although Colombia has taken some measures in this regard, there are still violations of the rights of these people due to their status as migrants. In the case of the La Iguaná neighborhood, in Medellín, there are situations of overcrowding or inadequate infrastructure for living, especially because the buildings are located next to a river passage, which grows during the rainy season. Food insecurity is also a constant challenge due to difficulties in cooking or buying food, greatly affecting children in their development processes. The time of the Covid-19 pandemic further complicated these conditions, and after being overcome, with fewer difficulties, but still in conditions of vulnerability, the mothers warn of the constant challenges they must face in a neighborhood characterized by the logic of micro-trafficking and unsafety. Regarding homes, the spaces and objects are designed to achieve the mobility project, despite the multiple difficulties and precarious conditions of the domestic space. Added to this are unemployment, lack of access to the health system, the absence of a support network, and daily experiences in a patriarchal culture that exposes them to multiple violations in contexts of violence and micro-trafficking that alter their upbringing experiences. Uncertainty inevitably threatens family projects, in some cases wanting to return to Venezuela or, failing that, resigning themselves to look for countries with better opportunities, regardless of whether it costs them their lives. Also relevant is the social criticism that they perceive regarding the use and abuse of illegal psychoactive substances, a daily part of the context they inhabit, and from which they constantly try to distance themselves, stressing much of the time how they experience the processes of raising their children.

Conclusions: Based on the narratives of migrant women in this context, attention is drawn to how multiple conditions of vulnerability are interconnected, making the analysis of the migration phenomenon in a country with characteristics like the country of origin more complex. Hence, an intersectional reading of migration is necessary, prioritizing women for their multiple tasks of care and economic support, broadening the understanding of the phenomenon, and revealing structural problems such as violence, poverty, and drug trafficking that characterize migration to the poor cousin. The study focused on the description of these difficulties, many of which should be a reason for raising awareness on the part of the receiving country not only to improve public policies and the design of reception programs but also to share them with society day after day.

The double suffering of this social group is evident, without forgetting the people who in Colombia have also suffered multiple violations of their human rights due to other identity characteristics.