Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Introduction: This essay explores the impact of post-truth and disinformation on Costa Rican democracy during the 2022-2024 period. It analyzes the false statements and misleading narratives of President Rodrigo Chaves and his team, focusing on how these distort public perception and affect democratic institutions. Objective: To analyze how disinformation emanating from the Executive Branch has influenced democratic stability and citizen participation, highlighting the different types of disinformation used. Method: A content analysis of the Costa Rican government's public statements, extracted from the national press, was carried out, organizing the falsehoods into categories according to their type (false content, misleading, false context, among others). Surveys and opinion studies were also consulted to contextualize the impact of these narratives. Results: The analysis reveals a deliberate pattern of disinformation used to influence public opinion. Despite the exposure of falsehoods, popular support for the president remained stable, reflecting the power of disinformation in solidifying political narratives. Conclusions: It is concluded that disinformation issued from high levels of government represents a significant challenge to Costa Rican democracy. Information literacy is crucial in combating this phenomenon, enabling citizens to make informed decisions and protect democratic integrity.

Introduction: This article examines the life experiences of the inhabitants of the informal settlement of Martina Bustos in Liberia, Guanacaste. It explores their childhood, family background, and current circumstances in terms of education, employment, and economy, as well as their daily dynamics in a community with limited access to basic services. Objective: To highlight the communal and personal experiences of the inhabitants of the Martina Bustos informal settlement, considering social and structural conditions regarding basic rights from 1940 to 2020. Method and technique: Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with five men and seven women aged 26 to 83. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for content. Confidentiality and anonymity were ensured through signed agreements detailing the study’s objectives and participants' rights. Results: Residents of the Martina Bustos informal settlement face challenges stemming from impoverished backgrounds, reflected in limited education, economic instability, and restricted access to basic services. Community organizations play a crucial role in mitigating these inequalities.

Introduction: In a political, social and economic context that violates the rights of children and adolescents, it is necessary to define lines of research and action in this matter. The article analyzes the trajectory and contributions of the Interdisciplinary Projects of Studies and Social Action on the Rights of Children and Adolescents (PRIDENA-UCR) to research and social action aimed at children and adolescents, between the period 2004-2024. Objective: The objective is to reconstruct PRIDENA's contributions to research on children's and adolescents' rights and to define research lines that respond to the sociopolitical context. Method: An exploratory and descriptive qualitative methodology was employed, including literature review, document analysis, and in-depth interviews with key PRIDENA stakeholders. Additionally, technique triangulation was used to analyze the context and empirical findings. Results: Three main areas were identified: PRIDENA's historical trajectory, its role in research and social action, and strategic research lines. These include the evaluation of protection and autonomy paradigms, public policy analysis, children’s and adolescents' participation, and studies on violence and exclusion. [Continue reading in article]

Introduction: The act of lending predates capitalist societies; however, currently subjects excluded from capital markets choose to acquire financing from informal sources; among which reference is made to the figure of the gota a gota. Objetive: Discuss the production of knowledge associated with the study of informal debt and the gota a gota, mainly in Latin America. Method and technique: A review of 137 publications was carried out in different databases, academic repositories and the artificial intelligence tool Research Rabbit published between 1989 and 2024 was used. Results: Most of the research was published in journal articles (42.34%), in areas of Economic Sciences (56.20%). Broadly speaking, informal debt is a source of financing provided by a variety of subjects, which is accessed by people excluded from the regulated financial system with greater ease of access; while the gota a gota is associated with loans linked to illicit sources from drug trafficking and collection mechanisms considered usurious when it is not possible for the indebted people to pay off the debt. Conclusions: The lending subjects in the gota a gota have both economic and social power; economic by being able to modify the conditions of credit according to their interest and social by reproducing a collective fear of what can happen. While the states and the market have generated the conditions of exclusion so that this situation is perpetuated.

Introduction: This article proposes to provide a map of the sociological approach to the climate crisis, focusing on the problem of causality. It attempts to clarify why the phenomenon of global warming has occurred and how a synthesis of sociological approaches can be developed to allow for a better understanding of it. Objective: It proposes to show the various forms of sociological approach to the causality of the environmental crisis, initially undifferentiated from the climate crisis, and proceeds to contrast the theories that seek to explain this causality. Method and Technique: Starting from a critical eclecticism, this article seeks to present a map of the sociological approach to the causes of global warming by identifying historical phases and contrasting theoretical approaches, as a triangulation, in light of criteria such as the critique of traditional theory, the reference to environmental and climate justice, and the framework within a methodological cosmopolitanism. Results: This paper presents an orderly description of the phases of this approach, and, as a result of comparing the approaches, identifies the theories that demonstrate the greatest and least consistency. Conclusion: The validity of the theoretical approaches is recognized for explaining the problem of causality with a conceptual density and logical consistency that aims to contribute to producing sociologically grounded research proposals on a central issue such as climate change.

Introduction: This research presents preliminary findings on theoretical and conceptual aspects, as well as practical experiences related to the management of Labor Social Responsibility. This area of work is essential for attracting and retaining the best available human talent and for fostering productivity within a healthy and inspiring work environment. Results obtained will be of great value to teaching practice.  Results will provide meaningful feedback on what is happening in companies regarding this subject, and how Public Relations Management could contribute to achieving these organizational goals. Objective: To characterize the practices implemented by five organizations in the sample to promote the well-being and development of their employees, as well as to ensure a healthy and appropriate organizational climate for the entire work team. Methodology: During this first phase of the research, a review of the most recent literature on the subject was carried out. This was complemented by semi-structured interviews with the individuals responsible for managing Social Responsibility within the organizations in the sample. [Continue reading in the article]

Introduction: In March 2020, the global spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 posed an unprecedented challenge to governments and public communication. Upon the detection of the first confirmed case within their territories, Ibero-American countries faced the urgent need to inform their citizens amidst a context of heightened uncertainty and concern. Objective: This article aims to analyse the official communication strategies employed by the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, and Panama when announcing their first confirmed case of COVID-19. The focus lies on the messages disseminated through press releases and social media platforms, as well as the public's responses to these communications. Method: A qualitative analysis was conducted on the press releases issued by the governments of the selected eight countries. Additionally, 16 official posts from Facebook and Twitter (8 from each platform) were examined, along with 567 citizen comments (360 on Facebook and 207 on Twitter), to identify communication patterns and public reactions. Results: The findings reveal a chaotic scenario in which governments faced considerable challenges in delivering clear and effective messages. While the communication strategies exhibited similarities across countries, sociopolitical and cultural contexts significantly influenced public perception. Citizen responses on social media reflected widespread dissatisfaction and unmet expectations, such as a lack of clarity and sensitivity in the messaging. This study underscores the need to strengthen governmental health communication by incorporating risk management, scientific dissemination, active listening, and contextually sensitive approaches. Enhancing these practices is crucial for addressing future public health emergencies effectively.

Introduction: This article addresses the results of a study in which undergraduate students with disabilities at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) were surveyed regarding their satisfaction with an accommodation plan that provides them with support, in the form of non-significant accommodations, in university courses. Objective: The objectives developed for this article are: a) to compare the agreed-upon adaptation plan with the needs expressed by the student population during the negotiation process with academic authorities, and b) to determine compliance with the agreed-upon and executed adaptation plan, from the students' perspective, once the course has concluded. Method and technique: A structured interview was conducted with a student population that agreed to and implemented an adaptation plan, for which a structured questionnaire was administered. Through a snowball sampling method, 14 students are selected and asked about their experience in 5 randomly chosen courses, for a total of 70 courses analyzed. Results: Students are highly satisfied with the agreed-upon adjustments and inclusive classroom treatment, although nearly half of the courses studied experienced failure to implement the agreements. [Continue reading in the article]

Introduction: Women make up less than 25% in technical and leadership roles in today’s videogame industry. This low representation is due to pervasive gender stereotypes in male-dominated spaces, and hinders diversity of ideas, fosters vicious cycles of oppressive conducts, and perpetuates narratives of inequality both in the fictional worlds of videogames and in the industry’s workplaces. Objective: To study the effects of the Women Game Jam on the participation, learning experience and opportunities for women in Costa Rica’s video game industry. Methods and Techniques: In August of 2024, 19 participants and 6 mentors of the three editions of Women Game Jam Costa Rica were surveyed about their perception of the video game industry and the event’s impact on bridging gender gaps in this industry. Results: Most participants agree that the industry is male-dominated. They also emphasize the importance of events like Women Game Jam in creating opportunities for networking, learning, and gaining experience in video game development without restrictions. Conclusions: The Costa Rican video game industry faces significant gender barriers that limit women's participation and leadership. As a result, the importance of safe spaces and the impact of WGJ are recognized as for their effects in helping to overcome these challenges.

Introduction: Violence against women is a serious problem worldwide. However, government action in implementing programs to address gender-based violence has not been effective, considering the increase of this phenomenon in countries like Mexico. Objective: The objective of this article is to analyze how MUCPAZ contributes to strengthening women's public action to address gender-based violence problems in the Riveras del Bravo neighborhood of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Method and technique: The methodological design of this research was qualitative and exploratory. The strategy used was the case study and 15 semi-structured interviews were carried out, 8 with women members of Mucpaz and 7 with other key actors, which were analyzed with the help of the Atlas.Ti software. Results: MUCPAZ strengthens public action through training to prevent gender-based violence, understanding the levels of public administration action, and creating internal communication networks. Conclusions: There is a risk that Mucpaz will become a palliative remedy that only contains violence in the short to medium term as part of the traditional patriarchal way of creating policies.