Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the preferences and attitudes towards board games among university students. The research counted with the participation of students of the Human Resources Management course, of the Business Administration degree at the Universidad de La Serena (Chile), as well as experts in the fields of board games, education, and human resources management. A descriptive and multivariate statistical analysis (multi-attribute compositional model) was performed, for which two sequential stages were established: an exploratory-descriptive phase to identify the most important attributes of board games for the teaching of the discipline, followed by an explanatory and cross-sectional phase to measure student preferences and perception towards board games. The results showed a favorable predisposition towards board games, which were considered suitable for developing social, problem-solving, and analytical skills. In addition, it was determined that the preferred games are those with high interaction among participants, of a collaborative type, with a maximum dedication of 90 minutes and a medium level of complexity. The contrast of preferences according to sex revealed that men prefer competitive games, with high interaction and complexity, while women prefer collaborative games, with medium interaction and complexity. It is concluded that board games represent a methodology with a high potential for applicability in the teaching and learning of human resources management, but that it should be adapted to the preferences of the students.