Building player profiles for strategic analysis in higher education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29073/jer.v3i1.45Keywords:
Education Simulations, Game Theory, Game-Based Learning, Gamification, Strategic Decision-MakingAbstract
This article is an original contribution to the development of analytical models applicable to higher education, focusing on the construction of player profiles based on strategic decisions in gamified contexts. The work falls within the field of educational gamification, proposing a conceptual and operational model to create an automated tool for identifying strategic player profiles, based on data collected through a structured questionnaire.
The proposal is based on the foundations of game theory, decision psychology and behavioural analysis, with the central objective of developing a methodology that allows players' strategic profiles to be drawn up in a personalised and automated way in simulated learning environments. The model classifies participants into four distinct profiles—competitive, cooperative, adaptive, and cautious—based on their behaviour when faced with strategic dilemmas.
As part of this article, a pilot test of the tool was conducted with a group of higher education students in the field of tourism, thereby validating the model in a real-world environment. The practical application demonstrated a high level of agreement between the profiles identified by the questionnaire and the behaviours observed later in simulated games, thereby reinforcing the reliability of the proposed methodology.
Based on these preliminary results, it can be concluded that the model is ready to be applied to broader and more diverse samples, including higher education institutions in other countries. Such an expansion will enable the model to be validated in various cultural and pedagogical contexts, thereby contributing to the consolidation of an innovative approach to diagnosing, personalising, and developing strategic skills in gamified educational environments.
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