Resistances. Journal of the Philosophy of History

Physical fitness screening for the initial identification of sports potential in schools in the El Real commune: case of the José Luis Tamayo School

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The article examines physical fitness screening for the initial identification of sport potential among schoolchildren in the El Real community, Ecuador, using José Luis Tamayo School as a case study. It highlights the need for standardized assessments in physical education to recognize outstanding fitness profiles and to guide inclusive sport opportunities. To describe physical fitness screening for the initial identification of sport potential among schoolchildren. Quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive study. A census sample of 300 schoolchildren participated (120 girls and 180 boys). The EUROFIT battery was administered during school hours with a standardized warm-up. Results were standardized (z-scores) by sex and age group, reversing tests where lower values indicate better performance; the global index was the mean of standardized scores and was classified by percentiles (?p33 low, p34–p66 medium, ?p67 high). Frequencies, percentages, means, and SD were reported (SPSS v25). Overall, 56% were classified as medium, 24% as low, and 20% as high. Most students showed physical fitness appropriate for their age. Girls performed better in flexibility and balance, while boys performed better in strength, speed–agility, and cardiorespiratory endurance. In the high level, 63.3% were boys and 36.7% were girls. The screening identified, within the school context, a group with high physical performance suitable for sport orientation. Longitudinal follow-up and the inclusion of technical, tactical, psychological, and contextual variables are recommended.

Digital footprint, algorithmic surveillance and self-censorship: effects on interpersonal communication authenticity

Emily Vanessa Díaz Pozo, Cynthia Shakira Enriquez Fierro — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines how digital footprints and algorithmic surveillance affect the authenticity of interpersonal communication in digital environments. The study sought to determine whether the perception of constant surveillance encourages self-censorship, intolerance, and the deterioration of social dialogue. A non-experimental cross-sectional design with a mixed approach was used. The quantitative part consisted of a survey of 300 participants, and the qualitative part included semi-structured interviews with three specialists in communication, law, and technology. The results indicate that many participants change the way they express themselves on social media for fear of the possible consequences of their digital footprint. This fear reduces spontaneity and helps create closed environments, where there is less contact with different opinions. In summary, algorithmic surveillance weakens the social function of communication and presents significant challenges for coexistence and democratic exchange in the digital environment.

Motivational Profiles in Physical Education Students in Rural Schools

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In Physical Education (PE), motivation influences participation; in rural schools, limited resources may reduce engagement. According to Self-Determination Theory, satisfaction of autonomy, competence, and relatedness (basic psychological needs, BPN) promotes the intention to be physically active. To identify motivational profiles in rural students and examine their relationship with BPN satisfaction and intention toward physical activity. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study. Participants were 220 schoolchildren (10–12 years) from five rural institutions in the Cañar canton (Ecuador), selected through purposive sampling. The CMEF-EP, BPNES-PE, and MIFA were administered; descriptive analyses, Pearson correlations, comparisons by sex and extracurricular practice (Welch’s t-test), and profile analysis using k-means were conducted. Motivational regulations were moderate to high (M = 5.30–5.41/7), and BPN satisfaction and intention were high (M = 4.09–4.19 and 4.05/5), with moderate amotivation (M = 4.24/7). Intention was positively associated with autonomy (r = 0.67), relatedness (r = 0.68), and intrinsic motivation (r = 0.62), and negatively associated with amotivation (r = ?0.52; p < 0.001). No sex differences were observed. Students who engaged in extracurricular physical activity showed higher motivation, BPN satisfaction, and intention, and lower amotivation (d ? 0.65–1.13). Three profiles were identified: high self-determination, low self-determination, and ambivalent with high amotivation; the latter two showed lower BPN satisfaction and intention. Distinct motivational profiles exist in rural PE; promoting autonomy-, competence-, and relatedness-supportive practices may strengthen future intention toward physical activity. These findings inform inclusive, creative interventions using context-appropriate resources.

Playful-motor strategies and their relationship with teamwork in upper elementary students

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

School Physical Education constitutes a key setting for motor, social, and emotional development during adolescence. In this context, play-based motor strategies can promote meaningful experiences of participation, enjoyment, cooperation, and interpersonal bonding, dimensions that are closely associated with teamwork. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between play-based motor strategies and teamwork among upper basic education students aged 12 to 16 at Eugenio Espejo Educational Unit in the city of Cuenca, Azuay Province. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional study with a descriptive-correlational scope was conducted. The sample consisted of 196 students from the eighth, ninth, and tenth grades of upper General Basic Education. For data collection, a sociodemographic form, the Questionnaire for the Study of Meaningful Physical Education (CEEFcS), and the Cooperative Learning Questionnaire (CAC) were administered. The results showed high levels in perceived play-based motor strategies (M = 3.60; SD = 0.81; ? = 0.971) and in teamwork (M = 3.80; SD = 0.83; ? = 0.952). In the CEEFcS, eleven dimensions reached a high level, and only the participatory teaching style showed a medium level (M = 3.21). In the CAC, all dimensions were at a high level, with individual responsibility standing out (M = 4.04). In addition, positive and significant correlations were observed between all dimensions of both instruments (p < 0.001), with the association between total scores being the highest (r = 0.769). It is concluded that they demonstrate clear pedagogical relevance.

The language of fashion as a communicational construction of identities in contemporary Ecuador

Adriana Paola Criollo Jima, Cynthia Shakira Enriquez Fierro — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article analyzes fashion language in Ecuador not as an object of consumption, but as a form of cultural communication through which identities are constructed and expressed today. The research starts from a central question: how are media messages, global trends, and new consumption habits reshaping the meaning that citizens give to the clothes they wear? To explore this link, the focus was placed on the symbolic value of national clothing and its weight in the country's identity. A mixed, non-experimental, cross-sectional methodology was applied, which allowed for a broad overview of the phenomenon. The study gathered the opinions of 303 people, aged 20 to 50, through surveys, and delved deeper into the views of key players in the sector through qualitative interviews. This cross-referencing of data made it possible to contrast statistical metrics with stories and experiences about clothing in the local context. The results confirm that, although there is consensus on fashion's ability to project who we are, this interpretation is neither linear nor homogeneous. The way we decode clothing is closely tied to how close consumers feel to their roots and to the strong pressure of social media, which today serves as the main aesthetic reference point. There is a constant mix of symbols of heritage and global trends, giving rise to fluid and, at times, contradictory identities. In short, Ecuadorian fashion has an undeniable identity, but its real impact is subject to a permanent tension between tradition, the digital environment, and consumer logic, where the sense of belonging is negotiated at every moment.

Impact of Cooperative Games on Gross Motor Coordination in Elementary School Students

Diego Ismael Barahona Zhirzhan, Santiago Alejandro Jarrín Navas — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The main objective of this research was to determine the level of gross motor coordination and analyze the relevance of cooperative games as a pedagogical strategy for strengthening it in primary school students at the Ciudad de Paute Educational Unit. The methodology was developed using a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental design, descriptive scope, and cross-sectional nature, since the measurement was taken at a single point in time without manipulation of variables. The technique used was structured observation, applying the 3JS motor coordination test, consisting of seven tasks performed consecutively (jumping, turning, throwing, kicking, slalom running, slalom bouncing, and dribbling), rated on a qualitative scale from 1 to 4 points (1 = immature execution; 4 = optimal execution). The study population consisted of 98 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students, aged between 8 and 10 years, comprising 34 females and 64 males. The results showed a heterogeneous motor profile: strengths were observed in throwing (M = 3.32), object control (3.13), jumping (2.95), and locomotor coordination (2.91), indicating above-average performance. In contrast, the most significant weaknesses were identified in dribbling (1.54), ball handling (1.48), and hand coordination (1.54), reflecting immature execution associated with limitations in hand-eye and foot-eye coordination. It is concluded that it is necessary Implement cooperative game-based programs, specifically designed for handling moving objects, to reduce performance gaps and promote comprehensive and inclusive motor development.

Resilience as a Key Element in Athletic Performance: A Literature Review

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Athletic performance requires psychological resilience to cope with adverse situations and competitive stress. While this construct is trained from an early age globally, its development is limited in Latin America and Ecuador due to a focus on physical aspects and a lack of specialized psychoeducation. Strengthening resilience is essential to ensure emotional stability, autonomy, and sustainable performance; therefore, the objective of this research was to analyze the influence of resilience on athletic performance through a literature review. A descriptive qualitative review was developed based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Using search equations with Boolean operators in Scopus, ProQuest, and SciELO (2021-2026), 174 initial records were identified. Using Rayyan software, the screening process eliminated duplicate and irrelevant documents. Subsequently, the evaluation of titles and abstracts excluded 46 studies. Of the 22 reports retrieved in full text, four were discarded due to discrepancies in population and objectives, resulting in a final sample of 18 scientific studies. Resilience is a vital psychological factor in coping with competitive demands, promoting emotional regulation and adaptation to adversity. The findings show that this resource mitigates stress, anxiety, and burnout, accelerating recovery from injuries. It is recommended to integrate its systemic development, supported by coaches, from the formative stages to sustain success.

Mechanisms for applying artificial intelligence to reduce tax evasion in Ecuador

Danny Gustavo Lemache Noriega — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tax evasion continues to undermine the capacity of the Ecuadorian State to finance its constitutional obligations, due to evasive practices that exceed traditional tax control methods. The general objective of this work was to analyze, through a systematic review, the use of artificial intelligence as a tool for reducing tax evasion in Ecuador. The research adopted a qualitative approach and employed a systematic review methodology to examine relevant scientific literature published in the last five years. Fifteen academic articles were reviewed that addressed models, techniques, and applications of artificial intelligence in tax control processes. The results showed that models such as machine learning, neural networks, random forest, clustering, and expert systems have improved the detection of evasion patterns, optimized audits, identified high-risk taxpayers, and strengthened tax traceability in various countries. It was concluded that, in the Ecuadorian context, legal mechanisms that allow its integration were identified, although challenges persist regarding algorithmic transparency, data protection, technical oversight, and the absence of specific regulation.