Sapienza: International Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

Development of scientic skills: augmented reality and interactive digital board

2024-11-03T00:20:41-03:00

Augmented reality and interactive digital boards are tools that enhance students’ learning. This study shows how 95 5-year-old children in kindergarten, from three municipal schools in San Felipe, Chile, improved their scientific skills of observing, communicating, and formulating hypotheses employing these tools. Three pre- and post-tests were applied through quasi-experimental research, and it was possible to observe the level of development in each scientific skill. The results showed that the program Experiment with Physics using Augmented Reality and Interactive Digital Board is a didactic strategy that allows the mediation between teachers and children, as well as the discovery and comprehension of some physical phenomena, enhancing scientific skills.

Impact of quality management on financial competitiveness in the Peruvian banking sector: an empirical study

2025-04-08T22:43:31-03:00

This study analyzes the impact of quality management on the financial competitiveness of a banking institution. In a highly competitive financial environment, continuous improvement of service quality has become a key factor for the sustainability of banking institutions. The objective of the study was to determine to what extent quality management impacts financial competitiveness, considering dimensions such as quality criteria, staff training, internal infrastructure and complaint management. A quantitative design was used, applying an ordinal logistic regression analysis on a sample of bank customers. The findings indicate that all dimensions of quality management significantly impact financial competitiveness, with Wald values and p-values less than 0.05, validating the positive relationship between both concepts. Conclusions: The research reaffirms the need to implement comprehensive strategies to improve quality management to optimize operational efficiency and strengthen the position of banking institutions in the market. Future research is recommended that broadens the geographical scope and analyzes the impact of digitalization on the relationship studied.

Local self-government digital transformation in the context of sustainable development: potential of artificial intelligence

2025-04-28T14:32:28-03:00

This article analyzes contemporary trends and challenges in the digital transformation of local self-government within the landscape of sustainable development, focusing on the potential of AI-based solutions for municipal and rural territories. The scope of research is determined by the fact that digital technologies and their intensive development influence the formation of not only new processes in management, but also the management relations of authorities and the population, generating open integration interaction between them. An interpretive, pragmatic and critical literature review methodology is employed to synthesize existing knowledge and identify key themes with practical implications. The findings demonstrate that AI applications in sustainable local governance establish new standards for urban and rural development by providing novel solutions to old and developing difficulties. However, the analysis also reveals that no one-size-fits-all solution exists; instead, a thorough evaluation of local needs, cultural settings, and potential problems is required. Adaptive tactics, rigorous data governance, and strong community relationships are essential for successful implementation.

Solution focused thinking and resilience: mediating effect of depression, anxiety, and stress among young adults in Davao del Sur, Philippines

2025-01-05T05:42:48-03:00

Studies on resiliency revealed Filipino’s ability to bounce back from crisis situations. In this study, the mediating effect of depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) on the influence of solution focused thinking (SFT) on the resilience of young Filipino adults in Davao del Sur was determined. A convergent mixed-methods design was utilized, allowing for the collection of data from both survey tools and semi-structured interviews. Using purposive random sampling, there were 519 respondents surveyed, and 8 participants interviewed. The statistical tools used were mean, standard deviation, and regression analysis, while Colaizzi’s method was utilized to explicate the qualitative data. Results of the study revealed high level of solution-focused thinking and resilience; however, participants exhibited high levels of depression and stress, with severe anxiety. There was no direct relationship found between SFT and resilience, while DAS was found to have significant influence on resilience. Also, the mediating effect was significant reporting that SFT lowers DAS of respondents, and higher DAS increases resilience of young Filipino adults. The experiences of young Filipino adults further explained the results reporting themes on resilience-shaking adversities (uncertainty about life, psychological distress, and socio-economic and relationship issues), and resilience-building initiatives (ability to reframe one's thought, goal-oriented actions, and internal and external support). Corroborated findings were used as basis for an SFT program to reduce DAS symptoms and strengthen resilience of young Filipino adults in Davao del Sur.

Matrix of Innovative competencies in public administration within the ecosystem of sustainable development, national security, and financial efficiency

2025-05-04T02:40:36-03:00

The dynamism of the landscape of development and security as a system leads to constant changes in the external and internal environment, including the emergence of new imperatives in the use of management tools, changes in the priority of development factors, etc., which accordingly dictate the need to find new directions for resolving contradictions. One of the most important directions in this regard is the concept of sustainable public management and the ecosystem approach in managing organizations. The article examines the features and conceptual foundations of the ecosystem approach in detail, formulating a theoretical and methodological concept for resolving the contradictions of “development” and “sustainability”. The methodology combines three complementary approaches: the ecosystemic perspective, which conceptualizes innovative environments as self-organizing open systems; the pragmatic review structure, enabling a structured and purpose-driven synthesis of diverse sources; and the critical analytical lens, which interrogates underlying asymmetries in competency frameworks. It is shown that sustainable public management and administration are based on sound policies and goals that managers must diligently achieve, regardless of what the internal and external environment may dictate in some cases. A feature of the author’s approach is the matrix of innovative competencies in public management, which provides for the possibility of flexible application of three paradigms of public management in the domains of sustainable development, national security, and financial efficiency.

Practical guidance as a graduation modality and professional development in tourism: an Ecuadorian university case

2025-05-12T14:21:07-03:00

This research analyzes the incidence of academic and professional training in integrating the degree modality: the practical guidance in students of the National Tourism Guide career at the University of Tourism Specialties (UDET) in Quito, Ecuador. It is based on Kolb's experiential learning theory, which establishes a four-stage learning cycle: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. The study evaluates how this approach strengthens theoretical understanding and practical application of knowledge in future tourism professionals. For this purpose, a Holistic and Experiential Learning Evaluation Instrument (HELEI) was designed, which combines quantitative and qualitative methods to present results that show that this approach fosters better integration of theoretical knowledge with practical experience, strengthening meaningful learning, sustainability, and intercultural education. The research highlights the importance of consolidating practical guidance as a central axis in training tourist guides in Ecuador.

Understanding mother's knowledge about complementary feeding and the anthropometric assessment of infants

2025-05-03T22:33:29-03:00

Introduction: Complementary feeding (CF) is a process in which the infant goes from being fed exclusively breast milk to consuming liquid or solid foods. During this stage, parents are the ones who choose food, therefore, they must have adequate knowledge to avoid eating habits that are harmful to the health and future of the child. Objective: Determine the relationship between the level of knowledge of mothers about complementary feeding and anthropometric evaluation of breastfeeding children. Methods: This work has a quantitative approach, non-experimental design, cross-sectional and descriptive scope. The sample was 28 mothers who came with their children between 6-24 months to the Mulalillo Child Development Center (CDI), in Ecuador, to whom the surveys were applied and the children had anthropometric measurements taken, finally the data were analyzed in SPSS. Results: There is a moderate correlation between the mothers' level of knowledge about CA and the nutritional status of the infants, with a Spearman's Rho of 0.483 and a statistically significant relationship with a value of 0.009. Conclusions: There is a relationship between the mothers' level of knowledge about AC with the socioeconomic level, family risk and the nutritional status of the infants. Poor knowledge about AC is linked to a higher risk of suffering from malnutrition, being overweight or obesity.