An end in sight Surviving the Viva!

1. An end in sight Surviving the Viva! Rhona O’Connell

2. Viva voce • Oral examination • Defence of a theses

3. Reasons why PhD viva is required • To check whether it is your own work • To check your understanding of the work • To check whether it is worthy of a PhD

4. Other issues • Defend the thesis! • Locate study in broader context • Opportunity to clarify unclear or weak areas • Ability to reflect critically on the work

5. And also • Understanding • that you're ready to become an independent researcher • Relationship to other work • that you have a command of your subject-area • Originality – what is ‘new’ about this work

6. Best time . . .? • Submission of our work • No more to be done • Time on your hands • Other peoples’ comments . . .?

7. Preparation for viva Where to start . . .

8. Preparation • Read and re read – take notes • Anticipate the questions you'll be asked • generic and specific • Be familiar with the literature used • and some you haven’t! • Who are the examiners? • what is their interests? • Have confidence in your work and your ability to defend it

9. Know your thesis . . . • Familiarity with the literature and debates about the topic • Prepare to justify and defend decisions made • Highlight the strengths and implications of the study • Consider what could be done differently • Consider the implications of this study for further work or for ‘practice’

10. Consider • Any new literature (or any missed!) • Any publications prior to completion are helpful • Programme of further study?

11. Reflect on existing skills • Confidence at oral presentations • What are your strengths when discussing our work? • What are your weaknesses? • Have you been asked ‘difficult’ questions about your work? • Have you explained your work well to others? • Have you had feedback on your performance? • How do you handle criticism? • How do you handle pressure?

12. On the day • Have breakfast . . . • Know where to go and arrive early • Bring a copy of thesis – write all over it/ ‘post-it’ notes /triggers • Prepare to summarise your study

13. Know who will be present . . . • Internal + external examiner • Supervisor present • Someone on ‘your side’? • Take notes, provide feedback, provide support • Or not . . . • Independent chair/university official • Duration . . .

14. Tips • Relax and enjoy it, if possible! • Listen carefully to the questions and take your time answering them. • Provide enough information as relevant and avoid going off at a tangent. • Handling difficult questions: • If you don't understand, ask for clarification.. • Treat vague questions as opportunity to tell the examiners what you think might be of interest • If you really can't answer a question: • Be honest and say you don’t know • If it's about literature you haven't come across, thank the examiner and ask for a reference.

15. Examiners • Will be prepared and will have read your work in detail • Examiners will usually agree in advance which areas they will focus on • Be aware of their research interests and previous publications

16. Various approaches to questioning • Sequential approach • From literature review through to discussion • Thematic approach • Broad areas to more specific • Page by page approach • Systematically through each page or section

17. Opening question • ??? • Summary of study?? • Why this topic selected?? • Should demonstrate interest and familiarity with your work

18. Prepare for the expected . . . • Summarise the various areas addressed in this thesis • What are the interesting components of this work? • Who will be interested in this study? • Did your study turn out as expected? • How will this area of research develop over the next few years and do you see that you will have a role in this?

19. Also expected • Why is this subject important? • Who else thinks it is important? • Why has this study not been done before? • What is your contribution to this area of research? • Who will be interested in your findings?

20. Anticipate questions • Literature reviewed • Methodology • Ontological and epistemological questions? • Methods – decisions made • Findings • Potential pitfalls – alternative results possible? • Reliability/validity or rigour/ trustworthiness of data • Discussion • What is new, interesting, exciting about this study?

21. Typical Viva Questions • What is the study about • Key findings • Challenges in undertaking this work • Importance of this work • What is exciting or new • Any omissions – what might you do differently • Limitations • Recommendations (key) • Dissemination • Implications for further research

22. What about the unexpected? What can trip you up?

23. When you are told that it is over. . . • Reprieve from questioning • Relief • Awaiting judgement . . .

24. Possible results • PhD awarded • Awarded with minor revisions • Referral - major revisions required • No award or recommendation for lower degree (MPhil)

25. Post viva • Various experiences • Relief • Frustration • Exhaustion • Delighted • Anti-climax . . . • Are there corrections / changes to be made . . .

26. Follow on work to graduation • Procedures . . . • Timelines . . . • Revisions . . .

27. Appeals • All Universities have appeal mechanisms • Ascertain grounds for appeal – usually related to irregularities of procedures not academic judgment of examiners

28. Finally Not about surviving the viva but . . . an opportunity on how to do justice to yourself and your research and . . . perhaps even to enjoy the event!