Journal of Hunan University Natural Sciences

The purpose of this article is to determine the levels of higher-order social skills (HHSS) among secondary school students to structure an educational program that accounts for group- and gender-based differences. This article describes a new multidimensional HHSS assessment and intervention framework based on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions, enabling educators to tailor interventions according to the specific characteristics of learners. Using a combination of standardized HHSS questionnaires, observational checklists, and statistical analysis, the authors evaluated social interaction, conflict resolution, and emotional expression in 297 sixth-to eleventh-grade students at a public educational institution in Palmira, Colombia. The results indicated significant variability in HHSS by age group and gender, revealing, for example, that older female students scored 12% higher in emotional expression than younger male peers, while conflict‐resolution competencies lagged by 15% among certain male cohorts. As an example, we illustrate how the proposed framework identifies low‐empathy cohorts—students scoring below the 25th percentile in the empathy subscale—and informs targeted didactic strategies within existing curricular areas.
Our proposal allows us to improve key social‐climate indicators, such as reducing reported peer‐conflict incidents by 20% and increasing self‐reported assertive communication by 18%, by integrating HHSS modules directly into language and social studies classes. The new method for effectiveness evaluation was confirmed by the calculation of pre- and post-intervention HHSS scores, which demonstrated statistically significant gains (p < 0.01) across all three dimensions. New research results supplement existing socio-educational models by demonstrating how gender-and age‐differentiated programming can be embedded within an institution’s pedagogical model and can be used for designing context-specific HHSS programs in other schools. This study is novel because it integrates quantitative gender-and age‐segmentation data to inform the development of a scalable, evidence‐based HHSS curriculum that aligns with institutional teaching practices and directly targets social‐emotional challenges both inside and outside the school context.

Keywords: School Coexistence; Integral Education; Social Skills (HHSS); Social Interaction.

https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.52.4.15

This study aims to empirically measure the satisfaction of residents in aging homes in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, using the SERVQUAL model as the theoretical framework. The research evaluated satisfaction across five dimensions: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered in five established aging homes: ProbinNibash, Azimpur Old People Age Home, Care Bangladesh, AshrayNibash, and AponNibash. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Smart PLS was employed to analyze the data and identify the key factors influencing resident satisfaction. The findings reveal that the Assurance dimension, particularly the knowledge and competence of caregivers, positively impacts overall satisfaction. In contrast, the Empathy, Reliability, and Responsiveness dimensions showed negative impacts on satisfaction, indicating that emotional support and timely care require significant improvement. The Tangibles dimension although traditionally valued, exhibited a lesser influence on resident satisfaction. The study highlights the critical need to enhance nursing practices and staff behavior to improve service quality and overall well-being in aging homes in Dhaka City. Addressing deficiencies in emotional support, timely care, and reliability will be vital for improving resident satisfaction. This study underscores the urgent need for improving emotional support, timely care, and caregiver reliability in aging homes in Dhaka, highlighting that the knowledge and competence of caregivers play a pivotal role in resident satisfaction. By identifying key service gaps, the findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to enhance service quality and well-being for the elderly. These results can guide the development of targeted training programs and policy reforms to address the critical needs of aging home residents in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Elderly Home Satisfaction, SERVQUAL Model, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), Smart PLS, Elderly Care, Nursing Standards, Service Quality, Dhaka City.

https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.52.4.14

This study focuses on the implementation and evaluation of the new curricular reform in the educational field of “Man and the World of Work” at the primary school level. The reform emphasizes the development of practical skills, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and students’ environmental awareness. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a newly developed educational text on students’ cognitive and psychomotor learning outcomes in early primary education. The research section of the study analyzes the impact of the new textbook on the performance levels of pupils in the 1st to 3rd grades of primary school in both cognitive and psychomotor learning domains. The performances of the control and experimental groups were compared through quantitative analysis, including didactic tests and statistical methods. The results showed that pupils using the modified textbook achieved significantly better results than the control group.
ANOVA and t-test demonstrated a significant difference in favor of the experimental group, with the effect size (Cohen’s d) indicating the practical significance of this intervention. The main benefit of the reform lies in the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical applications, and the modernization of the educational process. The findings support the necessity of systematically introducing innovative pedagogical approaches and professional teacher development, and improving the material conditions of schools. Despite these positive findings, challenges remain in implementing the reform, particularly regarding teachers’ preparedness and school infrastructure. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of this reform and its broader application across the various regions of the Slovak Republic.

Keywords: curricular reform, primary education, practical skills, financial literacy, quantitative research, didactic test, intervention effect.

https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.52.4.13

This study aimed to analyze students' critical thinking and environmental awareness in STEM learning based on SDGs. The research method used was a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent post-test-only control group design. The population consisted of 197 students, and a random sampling technique was used to select 75 students for the sample. The study employed a critical thinking test and an environmental awareness questionnaire as the instruments. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 with a MANOVA test. The results showed that gender influenced students' critical thinking skills; however, it did not affect students' environmental awareness in STEM learning based on the SDGs. Furthermore, the learning method had an impact on both students' critical thinking skills and environmental awareness, indicating that STEM learning based on the SDGs is more effective than conventional methods. In conclusion, the learning method influences students' critical thinking skills and environmental awareness, whereas gender affects the level of critical thinking but does not influence environmental awareness at the junior high school level.

Keywords: Critical thinking; environmental concern; SDGs; STEM.

https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.52.4.12

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) make a significant contribution to economic growth in developing countries, including Indonesia, through job creation and strengthening the local economy. This study aims to analyze the contribution of SMEs to economic growth in Bogor City, identify factors that affect the success of SMEs, and provide policy recommendations to strengthen the role of SMEs as a driving force for economic development. Using a quantitative approach with an explanatory method, data were collected through a survey of 387 registered SME respondents and analyzed by multiple linear regression. The results show that turnover growth and employee recruitment have a significant positive effect on business growth projections, while product innovation shows a significant negative influence, indicating that there are challenges in adapting innovation to market needs. A coefficient of determination (R²) of 5.8% shows that internal SME factors play a role, but external factors also have a significant influence. This study recommends market research training, financing facilitation, SME digitalization, and continuous assistance to optimize the contribution to local economic growth.

Keywords: SMEs, Economic Growth, Innovation, Public Policy.

https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.52.4.11