Using the DEMATEL method to identify key reasons for mathematics support

The Decision Making and Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) is considered as a useful and effective method for structural modeling which is comprehensively based on matrices. It is a commonly used method for modelling relationship between variables. DEMATEL has been applied in many areas such as project management, environmental engineering, social science, facility location problems and education for investigating relationship among variables. DEMATEL reveals the relationship and the severity of the effects of factors on each other. This method uses matrices and diagrams for visualizing the structure of complicated causal relationships. There is an increasing concern worldwide about the level of mathematical skills that is necessary for students to pursue their studies successfully at universities. Many countries including Australia are currently increasing resources for improvement in the uptake of mathematics in secondary or high schools. In the short term however, there are numerous students enrolled in universities and other tertiary institutions who lack mathematical skills and, in some cases, severely. Since most university courses require some level of mathematics literacy, the need to find solutions to the problem has become important for many universities in the world. An effective way to address this is to engage students, by offering the study of mathematics at Mathematics Learning Support Centres. Fundamentally, learning support programs and especially in mathematics provide extra assistance to students in current enrolment in a university. In order to improve or maximise delivery of service at Mathematics Learning Support Centres, an assessment of the reasons for using the centres is required. Ten reasons for seeking mathematics support were identified from literature review and interview with six experts comprising three mathematics learning advisers and students. The interrelationships among the reasons were considered in the application of DEMATEL method to determine the key reasons for seeking mathematics support. The DEMATEL method has identified that 'improving students' confidence in mathematics; helping students understand mathematics elements of course and reducing difficulty of solving mathematics problems as the top three important reasons for seeking mathematics help at a mathematics support centre at Central Queensland University (CQU).