This work is part of an investigation focusing on the educational evaluation of the skill of Learning how to Learn, which addresses the issue of basic skills that students needs to develop to function throughout life in the contemporary social context. One purpose of the study is to analyze the potential of external and diagnostics evaluations to estimate the level of acquisition of these skills. Focusing on a methodology of qualitative and quantitative analysis of the PISA tests released in the specific area of Science (2000Science ( -2006, we conclude that these tests require scientific skills of low complexity, with marked presence of mere reproduction. In addition, we appreciate the gap between the concept of competence proposed DeSeCo and what PISA really evaluates according to the results obtained in the area of Science. ResumenEl presente trabajo forma parte de una investigación centrada en la evaluación educativa de la competencia de Aprender cómo Aprender, en la que se aborda la temática de las competencias básicas que los estudiantes necesitan desarrollar para desenvolverse durante toda la vida en el contexto social contemporáneo. Uno de los propósitos del estudio es analizar el potencial de las evaluaciones externas y diagnósticas para estimar el grado de adquisición de estas competencias. Centrándonos en una metodología de análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo de las pruebas liberadas de PISA en el área específica de Ciencias (2000Ciencias ( -2006, concluimos que estas pruebas demandan capacidades científicas de baja complejidad, con acentuada presencia de la mera reproducción. Además, valoramos la distancia existente entre el concepto de competencia propuesto en DeSeCo y lo que realmente parece evaluar PISA a la luz de los resultados obtenidos en el área de Ciencias.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the neuroendocrine stress response, psychological anxiety response, and perceived match importance (PMI) between expert and non-expert control gamers in an official competitive context. We analyzed, in 25 expert esports players and 20 control participants, modifications in their somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety, self-confidence, PMI, and cortisol in a League of Legends competition. We found how expert esports players presented higher cortisol concentrations (Z = 155.5; p = 0.03; Cohen’s d = −0.66), cognitive anxiety (Z = 99.5; p = 0.001), and PMI (Z = 50.5; p < 0.001) before the competition than non-experts participants. We found a greater statistical weight in the cognitive variables than in the physiological ones. The results obtained suggest that real competitive context and player’s expertise were factors associated with an anticipatory stress response. The PMI proved to be a differentiating variable between both groups, highlighting the necessity to include subjective variables that contrast objective measurements.

The aim of the present study was to analyse differences in the psychoneuroendocrine stress responses of high-level, young swimmers depending on whether an autocratic and democratic coaching style was applied. Modifications in cortisol and the motivational climate of 18 young swimmers (15.3 ± 1.86 years, 10 females and 8 males) were analysed before and after two training sessions with equivalent training loads but directed by two coaches applying different approaches, i.e., autocratic (A) and democratic (D). The basal testosterone levels of the coaches were also assessed. The basal testosterone concentration was higher in coach A than in coach D; the athletes perceived them as autocratic and democratic, respectively. Swimmers under coach A's instructions showed higher cortisol levels, suggesting higher cortisol production related to coaching style. Furthermore, differences in the motivational climate concerning ego (i.e., athletes comparing their ability with that of other athletes) were observed with coach A, whereas differences in motivational climate concerning the task (i.e., athletes comparing their ability with their own past performance) were observed with coach D. Cognitive variables showed negative perceptions affecting athletes' training experience and performance when they were screamed at or insulted by coach A. There were no gender or age differences in cortisol production or motivational climate. In conclusion, this study suggests that an autocratic coaching style modulates cortisol release in both genders, affecting young elite swimmers' motivational climate and training experience.

El peso que ha adquirido la industria de los videojuegos en diferentes países y la posibilidad de jugar a estos videojuegos en línea han permitido que jugadores españoles se comuniquen con jugadores de otros orígenes que hablen una lengua diferente a la de ellos. En este estudio de caso, hemos querido analizar qué se aprende en cuanto a una segunda lengua extranjera cuando se juega a videojuegos. Para ello se han llevado a cabo observación sistemática y análisis de los discursos en partidas, entrevistas a jugadores y evaluación de destrezas. Los resultados obtenidos se han puesto en relación con la escala descriptiva que ofrece el Marco Común Europeo de Referencia de las Lenguas (MCERL).

La situación de la investigación cualitativa en Educación: ¿Nueva Guerra de Paradigmas? The situation of qualitative research in Education: Paradigm Wars again? RESUMEN A lo largo de este ensayo se plantea, desde una perspectiva crítica, cuál es la situación actual de la investigación cualitativa en Educación. Los autores establecen una descripción de lo acontecido durante la "Guerra de paradigmas" en el último cuarto del siglo XX para, a continuación, comparar la situación actual de la investigación cualitativa en educación con la percepción social y académica de qué significa investigar y producir conocimiento riguroso. La configuración del pensamiento hegemónico sobre investigación en educación basado en el positivismo y el surgimiento de lo que se ha venido a llamar "investigación basada en la evidencia" sustentan la construcción de este pensamiento hegemónico de forma que la investigación cualitativa parece estar quedando invisibilizada. Este artículo invita a preguntarse ¿Qué pueden hacer los investigadores e investigadoras cualitativos para revertir esta situación? Palabras clave: investigación cualitativa; guerra de paradigmas; investigación educativa; investigación basada en la evidencia AbStRAct ism for regulating the academic market Throughout this essay we show which is the current situation of the research in Education from a critical point of view. The authors describe the events during "the Paradigm Wars" in the last quarter of the 20th Century in order to compare the current situation of the qualitative research in education with the social and academic perception of the meaning of researching and producing a rigorous knowledge. The configuration of the hegemonic thinking about research in education based on the positivism and the appearance of "evidence-based research" support this hegemonic thinking resulting in an almost hidden qualitative research. What can qualitative researchers do to revert this situation?