Thesis Evaluation Criteria

1. Thesis Evaluation Criteria Prof. Dr. Mohamed AminEmbi Pusat Pembangunan Akademik

2. Examiner’s First Question • What is this one about? Examiners have little time available, so they want to extract the most in the shortest time. • Does it cite the right things? • What is achieved? Do I believe it? • Are all the pieces there? • Is the argument clear?

3. What examiners are looking for? • Review of Literature • Methodology • Presentations of Results • Discussion & Conclusions

4. Review of Literature • To what extent is the review RELEVANT to the research study? • Has the candidate slipped into “Here is all I know about x”? • Is there evidence of CRITICAL APPRAISAL of other work, or is the review just descriptive?

5. Review of Literature • How well has the candidate mastered the THEORETICAL underpinnings? • Does the candidate make the LINKS between the review & his/her methodology explicit? • Is there a SUMMARY of the essential features of other work as it relates to this study?

6. Methodology • What PRECAUTIONS were taken against likely sources of BIAS. • What are the LIMITATIONS in the methodology? Is the candidate aware of this? • Is the methodology for DATA COLLECTION APPROPRIATE?

7. Methodology • Are the techniques ANALYSIS PPROPRIATE? • In the circumstances, has the best methodology been chosen? • Has the candidate give an ADEQUATE JUSTIFICATION to the methodology?

8. Presentation of Results • Have the QUESTIOMS in fact been ANSWERED? • Have the HYPOTHESES been TESTED? • Is the LEVEL & FORM of ANALYSIS APPROPRIATE for the data?

9. Presentation of Results • Could the PRESENTATIONS of the results been made clearer? • Are PATTERNS & TRENDS in the results ACCURATELY indentified & summarized?

10. Discussion & Conclusions • Is the candidate aware of the possible limits to reliability & validity of the work? • Have the MAIN POINTS to emerge from the results been PICKED UP for discussion? • Are there LINKS made to the literature?

11. Discussion & Conclusions • Is there evidence of ATTEMPTS at theory building or reconceptualisation of problems? • Are there speculations? Are they well grounded in the results?

12. Assessment Criteria Presentation & Clarity • The reader should be able to read the text without difficulty. • The text should be clear & ‘tell a story’. • The reference list should be complete & accurate. • The thesis should be no longer than necessary.

13. Assessment Criteria Integration & Coherence • There should be logical & rational links between the component parts of the thesis. • There should be an intellectual WHOLENESS to the thesis.

14. Assessment Criteria Contribution to Knowledge (Masters) • Independent research based on sound knowledge. • Evidence of exercise of independent thought.

15. Assessment Criteria Contribution to Knowledge (Ph.D.) • Discovery of new knowledge. • Formation of theories • Innovative reinterpretation of known data & established ideas.

16. Assessment Criteria Originality & Creativity • Candidate’s own work. • Evidence of an appropriate level of independent work.

17. Assessment Criteria Review of Relevant Literature • Demonstration of detailed knowledge of original sources. • Possession of a thorough knowledge of the field. • Understanding of the main theoretical & methodological issues.

18. Assessment Criteria Statement of Problem • The problem to be tackled in the research should emerge naturally form the literature review. • The problem which has been identified should be worthwhile investigating. • Clear & succinct statement of the problem together with a set of questions/hypothes/

19. Assessment Criteria Methods of Enquiry Adopted • Appropriate justification of methods chosen. • Demonstration that methods employed have been chosen through a conscious process of deliberation.

20. Assessment Criteria Analysis of Data • The analytic methods used need to be justified & sufficient for the task. • Sensitivity to problems of reliability, measurement error & sources of bias. • Understanding the assumptions behind the test(s) employed.

21. Assessment Criteria Analysis of Data • Analyses clearly linked to questions/hypotheses posed. • Data presented in a well-structured way. • Demonstration of WHY each analysis was conducted, HOW analysis was done & WHAT it tell us about the data.

22. Assessment Criteria Discussion of Outcomes • Discussion should summarise without repetition what has been achieved in the research. • Links should be drawn between your work & work reviewed in the literature review. • The main findings should be INTERPRETED & related to theory.

23. Assessment Criteria Discussion of Outcomes • There should be reflection of the research process as a whole. • There should be a section discussing limitations of research design. • There should be some POINTERS to future work.

24. THESIS DEFENCE • Viva Voce means ‘lively discussion’. • The examiners may have decided before the exam whether to pass you or not. • The viva is to check it’s your work. • A chance to clarify things that aren’t clear in the thesis.

25. Tips for VIVA • Try to attend one or more thesis defenses prior to yours – focus on the interactions that occur. • Find opportunities to discuss your research with your friends & colleagues – listen carefully to their questions. • Don’t be overly ‘defensive’ at your defense.

26. Tips for VIVA • Judge whether a particular remark by the panel is a question that needs clarification or a mere suggestion to be considered. • Do not be nervous. • Describe your work in a confident tone & convincing manner.

27. Tips for VIVA • Avoid wordy power point presentation – if you can’t help it, use highlighters (bold, italics, underline, colours etc). • Stick to the time allocated (normally 15-20 minutes). • Before presentation, provide a list of papers presented & published on your study (if you have).

28. Tips for VIVA • Don’t spent too much time elaborating on the title and introduction – focus more on statement of problem, methodology & findings. • Display main findings/trends – need not give too details analysis – because examiners have read them. • Highlight your contribution to knowledge.

29. Tips for VIVA • Prepare not more than 15 slides & not less than 8 slides. • Spend not more that 2 minutes per slides. • Avoid ‘reading’ from the white board – face the audience & have eye contact with the panel.

30. Slides for VIVA • Title (1 slide) • Intro/Overview (1 slide) • Statement of Problem (1 slide) • Research Objectives (1 slide) • Research Questions/Hypotheses (1 or 2 slides)

31. Slides for VIVA • Research Design (1 or 2 slides) • Summary of Findings (2 or 3 slides) • Main Implications of Findings (1 slides) • Contribution & Suggestions for Future Work (1 slide)

32. VERDICT • Passed with no correction. • Passed subject to minor correction. • Passed with major/substantive revision/amendment. • Resubmission for examination. • Failed.

33. QUALITY • EXCEPTIONAL – no correction (Fewer than 5% worldwide) • EXCELLENT - very minor correction (Fewer than 20% worldwide) • SATISFACTORY/FAIR – major correction (sound but lacks a compelling element is some respect) • WEAK – resubmission because the thesis has fatal flaws.