HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR VIVA
PHD RESEARCH METHODOLOGY COURSE
NOV 2011
Assoc Prof Dr Jamaliah Said
Accounting Research Institute
Faculty of Accountancy
PHD CHARACTERISTICS
Originality
 Substantial
 Independent
 Significant
 Rigorous

Viva is the method for assessment of these
How does it work? [1]
Before the viva:
 Examiners sent thesis
 Prepare independent preliminary reports
 Come to preliminary judgement
 Come to preliminary judgement
 Each examiners complies lists of questions
and queries they have about the thesis
How does it work? [2]
During viva:
 Examiners meet before and plan the
structure of viva, questions, roles, etc
 Meet PhD candidate (supervisors may attend but
cannot say anything)
 Sometimes tell candidate their preliminary
judgement at start of viva and the purpose of
the viva
 Ask a series of questions and listen to the
answers
How does it work? [3]
At the end of the viva:
 You and your supervisor will be asked to
leave the room
 Examiners discuss their views and come to a
decision (see later)
 Invite you back in and tell you their decision
 Supervisor often comes in at this point
BEFORE THE VIVA

Examiners

 normally
2-3
 1 internal, 1-2 external
 staff = 2 internals

Selection
 chosen
by Department
 approved by Director of
Graduate School
 student consulted; no right of
veto
Supervisor
 may

attend Viva
Examiners must
 have
subject expertise
 be research active
 have experience of supervising
and examining (at least in team)
PREPARING FOR SUBMISSION & VIVA

Supervisor’s blessing
 advised,

 Postgraduate
not compulsory
Uni House
Copies
 need
1 copy for each examiner
and 1 for supervisor if you wish
 can be soft bound
 no loose sheets allowed
Studies Office in

Viva
 may
take weeks/months
 ask supervisor to arrange a
mock viva
 think about
 research
rationale
 originality
 contribution to knowledge
 strong and weak points
THE PHD VIVA

An integral part of the
examining process
 may
confirm a favourable
impression of thesis
 may compensate for
weaknesses

Allows candidate to
 defend
research/thesis
 expand and clarify

Allows examiners to assure
themselves that
 the
research is original
 the candidate did the work
 the candidate is capable of future
research unsupervised
CRITERIA FOR AWARD OF PHD

Thesis to make an original contribution to
knowledge

Thesis must contain material of a standard
appropriate for publication

Thesis must comply with regulations on length, form
etc
Outcome of the Viva
The five decisions examiners can make
1
“if the thesis fulfils the criteria…and the
candidate satisfies the examiners in all other
parts of the examination the examiners will
report that the candidate has satisfied them…”
(pass)
2
“if the thesis otherwise fulfils the criteria
but requires minor amendments…. require
the candidate to make within a certain time
period…amendments specified by them…”
(provisional pass with minor changes)
3
“if the thesis, though inadequate, shall seem
of sufficient merit…the candidate be
permitted to re-present his/her thesis in a
revised form within a certain time period.
The examiners may at their discretion
exempt from a further oral examination, on
re-presentation of his/her thesis…” (not
passed - major changes)
4
“if, after completion of the examination…the
examiners determine that a candidate has not
reached the standard required for the award of
the degree… they shall consider whether the
thesis does or might…satisfy the criteria for…
MPhil degree. If they so decide, the examiners
shall submit a report which demonstrates either
(a) how the criteria for the MPhil degree are
satisfied, or (b) what action would need to be
taken in order for these criteria to be satisfied.”
(offered MPhil now or with revisions)
5
“The examiners may determine that the
candidate has not satisfied them in the
examination.” (fail)
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?


Minor corrections and amendments
usually checked by Internal Examiner when
agreed
then proceed as “PhD awarded”
PhD awarded
candidate takes 2 copies of thesis to be hardbound
result approved by Director of the Graduate
School on behalf of the Senate
graduation
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Revise and resubmit
 student
 is
entitled to continued supervision
 after
 if
receives written guidance from examiners
thesis resubmitted may be second Viva
not, both examiners report in writing
REFRAME EVENT
The Viva . . . An Opportunity
 To discuss your work with experts
 To improve your arguments and
thesis
 To consider where to publish
– get free consultancy!
THE VIVA ... THE EXAMINERS
Adversarial
Friendly &
Interested
Examiners will make
you feel at ease. They
will want you to explain
your research.
Some examiners will challenge your
views, in order to hear your argument.
Detailed
Some examiners
inspect every word and phrase.
“On page 32, you say ...
please explain.”
THE VIVA ... STAY CALM & CONFIDENT
You are most probably
now the world’s expert
on your thesis topic.
 Argue each point with
confidence.
 Demonstrate your
depth/breadth of
knowledge.

PREPARATION

Revision and Summaries
Re-read
critically
Review each chapter and summarise in points
Defence of research

Know limitations
ON THE DAY
Be early
 Be careful what you wear
 Bring a drink
 Bring a pad and pen (although don’t expect
to take many notes)
 Expect to be nervous but try to deal with it
positively/constructively

ON THE DAY
 Check
-
list:
List of corrections
Pen and paper
Tissues
Drink
Copy of your thesis, especially your
summary and abstract
HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
Length of viva
Natural and applied
sciences (%)
Arts, humanities and
social sciences (%)
Up to 1 hour
3%
27%
1-2 hours
40%
56%
2-3 hours
43%
15%
3+ hours
15%
2%
Source: Tinkler and Jackson, The Doctoral Examination Process, SPHE & Open
University Press, Maidenhead: 2004, page 173
FINAL ADVICE
Expect to be nervous
 Practice your answers beforehand
 Don’t agree with everything they say but
don’t be arrogant
 Expect some corrections
 Make sure you are clear about important
dates

COMMON VIVA QUESTIONS
Originality

What are the most original parts of the thesis?

Which propositions would you say are
distinctively your own?

How do you think you work takes forward or
develops the literature in this field?

What are the “bottom line” conclusions of your
research? How innovative or distinctive are they?
COMMON VIVA QUESTIONS
Origins/Topics

Can you tell us how you came to choose this
topic for your doctorate?

Why have you defined the topic in the way you
did?

What were some of the difficulties you
encountered and did they influence how the topic
was framed?
COMMON VIVA QUESTIONS
Methods
 What are the core methods used in this thesis?
Why did you choose this approach? In an ideal
world, are there different techniques you’d have
liked to use?
Data
 What are the main sources or kinds of
evidence? Are they strong enough to sustain
the conclusions you draw?
 How do your findings fit with or contradict the
rest of the literature in this field?
COMMON VIVA QUESTIONS
What next?
 What are the main implications of your research for
the rest of the field?
DEALING WITH QUESTIONS

Listen to the question

Pause and take your time

Talk precisely and move from the general to the
specific

Use appropriate rhetorical strategies:
First
person and the active voice
BAD PRACTICES
On the part of the candidate
• Not answering the
questions
• Taking too long to answer
• Not being fully familiar
with the thesis
• Not admitting mistakes,
errors, omissions
On the part of the university
• Inadequate regulations
• Inadequate hospitality
On the part of the
examiners
• Not having read the
thesis completely
• Not focusing on the
candidate
• Being aggressive
On the part of the
independent chair
• Not intervening
• Not applying/knowing
about regulations
GOOD PRACTICES

On the part of the candidate
 Responding
to questions
 Acknowledging errors …

On the part of the examiners
 Submission
of report before the viva
 Constructive comments and intelligent questions
 Advice on what to do next

On the part of the independent chair
 Keeping
the viva going smoothly; managing the examiners and the
candidate
 Dealing with disagreements between examiners

On the part of the university
 Clear
regulations
 Well prepared staff and resources
VIVA EXPERIENCES










Aggressive defence
Missing references
Wrong version submitted
No mention of the external examiner’(s)’ work
Rambling answers
Methods – misunderstanding
Failure of technology
Display of artefact, performance, other products
Presentation Y/N?
Fire
Good LUCK
&
Thank You