Hi all

I have my viva in a couple of weeks and i'm just doing some practice questions/answers e.g. what made you interested in this field? What is the significant/original contribution of your research to your field? etc

This may be a silly question, but how long should I talk for when I'm asked a question?? I feel like i have a lot to say - I guess I am a bit disappointed in my final thesis and so want to use the viva as a way of showing that I am passionate, have things to say etc. But I'm also worried that I will talk too much for each question and the examiners will be bored / frustrated.

What do others think??x

Personally I think they should be more than a yes/no answer, preferably at least a couple of sentences. But, as you say, you don't want to bore the examiners.

I wouldn't worry about it unduly though. They'll probably interrupt if they get bored. Also if they want you to say more about a specific topic than you initially do they can ask you for more.

Best probably to chill out and take it as it happens. If you talk for ages don't worry ;-)

BTW the why did you choose this topic was the first question in my viva. It's a pretty standard ice breaker. So well done on preparing for that one. I gave an initial answer, but mentioned the lack of research in this area, which one of my examiners then picked up on and asked me why I thought this was. So it turned out to be a multi-part answer. And a good settler in.

I haven't done my viva, but I would keep answers shorter rather than longer - personally I end up getting myself in trouble by saying something wrong if I talk too much! e.g.

"so why did you choose this PhD"
"well, I was fascinated by the subject and the more I researched the area, the more I found it severely lacking in xyz which is why I wanted to do the PhD (this is where I should stop) and of course, I coulnd't get a job and it was easy money to sit and watch The Wright Stuff and other stuff, that's a really good show isn't it.........etc etc etc"

It would be worth practising to try to avoid this. Are you planning on having a mock viva?

I tend to keep to the point, partly because of the neurological disease: I have enough trouble speaking as it is, without letting myself wander off down worrisome allies!

I also found that in the viva room sitting opposite the examiners I felt incredibly focused. Even more so than usual.

Although I still have a long way till viva, just a quick question.

What if I have already included the answer to this question (Why this subject? What is your contribution?) in my thesis?

They'll probably ask you again. It was covered in my thesis too, but they asked it anyway. Asking why you chose the subject is a standard ice-breaker. And the examiners will expect you to be able to tell them what your contribution is, cos that's why you should get a PhD.

Thanks for your replies. My answer for "why this topic" was so long, so have now cut it down.

Just another quick question, I am finding that my answers to questions re: rationale and original contribution are much the same. Is this the case for others, or should I be saying something different? Hope that made sense!

Psychgirl x

Rationale is surely the reason why you did the research.

Original contribution is what is new and exciting and original about what you found out.

So the first one is about the start of your PhD, the second about what you found out by the end.

Thank you! I was getting so confused :-( Somehow I just needed someone to spell it out for me.
thanksx