Quality of Learning Support for Mathematics in Transition to University.

We report on the development and validation of an instrument that measures students' perceptions of 'the quality and effectiveness of the learning support' (for mathematics) during their transition to university. This is achieved through quantitative analyses of students' survey data - including some predictive modelling with the measure - complemented with insights from interview data. The construct validation of the measure was performed using the Rasch Rating Scale Model (RSM). Results include fit and category statistics and the construct hierarchy which is presented with some extracts from interview data. The paper concludes with some educational implications and examples of how this measure can be used to give substantial practical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]