Hi guys,

Last time I posted I was expecting to submit in 3 mths. However, I found out I was pregnant and became ill - so I really had to postpone for a year.

I had a lovely baby girl in July of this year :-) and finally submitted the thesis at the end of October.

I don't know what to expect for my viva. I am just very scared. I have since read over the thesis and I have found a few typos and errors - like a missing word. Not a lot - but I am still worried about this.

I asked them for a January viva date because I don't live in the UK right now and I want to be able to travel in with my baby - she will be 6 mths then.

What I want to ask - anyone did a Phd using qualitative methods? What was your viva like? What concerns was expressed about your methods? What questions?

I am just so on edge about this - I can't function properly.

Many thanks in advance.

Hello lonelyroad,

I haven't used your methods, but like you, I submitted recently and have been horrified to discover typos that weren't there before! This is normal. Don't point them out to examiners unless they ask. You could go on forever and still not arrive at a work of perfection.

There are some viva preparation books out there to help you structure your time until your viva. I have devised a strategy which works for me and am spending a couple of hours each day revisiting each section methodically. The rest of my time, I do something I enjoy to give perspective. My viva will be in the form of a presentation because of the field I am in.

Others on this forum have shared their experience of vivas. You could do a thread search. Also, you might find this website useful called 'Nasty Viva Questions' http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/cs/cs710/viva.html

It's commendable that you've submitted after having a baby and being ill. Most students have no responsibilities other than themselves.

Good luck and don't worry. Preparation is the key.

Hi Aloha,

Thanks for that link. I am trying to compile a swat sheet summary of my chapters and main arguments. Also, trying to anticipate questions and structure my answers to those.

I've given my thesis to one of the heavyweights in my field to read, and I am awaiting his comments.

I have a file with very good viva hints - I could pass it to you but I don't know how to upload files here....or maybe I could just copy and paste!! :)

Tried cut and pasting. Not sure why it is not being posted. Maybe too long?

I think there is a word limit on posts, other people sometimes write stuff in several posts to get round it. I expect the admins could tell us the exact wordcount?

I'm sure your tips would be really helpful to everyone though, I'm not at that stage yet and am finding all this viva talk useful.

Well done writing up with a young baby! I don't think I could have done that. I took the whole year out after mine was born and just did a little bit of writing.

POINTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE VIVA

• Be careful to prepare your defence - this will allow you to approach the viva with maximum confidence
• Plan answers to likely questions and take part in a practice dress rehearsal – this has proved to be a valuable and effective way of preparing for your viva

USUAL PROCEDURE

? The Examiner will welcome you and introduce themselves (they will probably tell you a little about themselves although you will know a lot from your own thorough preparation)
? The structure of the examination will be explained to you (occasionally they will tell you that they have already agreed to make the award but this is quite unusual)
? The External Examiner will encourage you to relax a little by giving you the chance to say a little about yourself. She/He may ask a question like: Tell us a little about yourself or what was the highlight of your programme of research?


? General Introductory questions will follow. The type of question you may be asked include:-

? Tell us a little about how you came to choose this area of study for your PhD?
? Tell us about your thesis?
? What is original about your research?
? What do you consider to be the significant strengths of the research? What are its weaknesses?

? Literature Review questions will usually follow: Questions and starting points for discussion might include:

1. This chapter is a critique of the literature concerning the…….What is the significance of these theories in relation to the development of…Have you any reservations or criticisms of the theories?
2. We note that you apportioned considerable significance to the work of… Why is her work so significant?
3. Can you explain your understanding about the theory of…….in relation to your own work? How does this relate to practice in the field? What were the significant research implications?
4. How do you feel the methods you used were influenced by your review of the literature?
5. What are the most recent developments that have occurred since you began your degree and how have these influenced your thinking about your research?


? Methodology questions and starting points for discussion might include:-

1. How does the methodology i.e. the underlying philosophical and methodological approach relate to the aims of the study as indicated in the introduction?
2. How do you justify the methods of research you selected? What were your reasons for not using……………?
3. In what way were they an effective measurement of………in your particular research situation? Why did you choose these methods above others? How could these methods be improved? How accurately do you think this reflected what you were attempting to measure?
4. How did the methods used combine to seek answers to the research questions? Are there any significant limitations of the research methods available to you?
5. Could the methodology chapter be better structured and the detail presented so that a knowledgeable reader would clearly understand what it was you did - exactly and why?
6. How would you re-structure and amend this chapter to take the above issues into consideration?

Results and Discussion

The individual nature of degrees make it more difficult to indicate the specific questions which might be asked about your results and discussion. Questions and starting points for discussion will be very specific and may be detailed. This is where you will need to strongly defend your research and any contentious results or discussion. A good starting point is to focus on the following questions in relation to your own thesis:

1. Can you summarise the main research findings for us? Why do you think these are significant?
2. How did you analyse the results to determine their level of accuracy and eliminate any tendency for error? What was the magnitude of error? How did you statistically validate your results?
3. You said in your discussion that you thought that………was particularly important. Can you expand on this point for us?
4. We’re not sure about the points you discussed in relation to your finding and the work of…..Can you clarify these for us?
5. In what way are the results supportive or in contrast to the findings of other researchers? How do these relate to (professional and industrial) practice as it stands at present? Explain the significant findings in relation to industrial and professional practice? How do you envisage these being taken forward by the appropriate industries/professions concerned?


Conclusions

By this stage in the examination your defence case has been presented since the conclusions should only present a summary, and no new information or argument should be introduced. The content should clearly and logically summarise the findings of your research and show how the results and discussion have answered the research aims and the research questions posed in the introduction. Providing this has been done questions which might be asked include:

1 How do you think your study adds to the body of knowledge in your field of research?
2 If you were asked to address some of the weaknesses of your study how would you go about doing so?
3 Now that you have completed your thesis, what potential for further research in this area exists as a result of the research that you have done? What would be your priorities in that research?
4 Do you think that your work is worthy of publication, and if so where do you see it being published?

Approaching the Viva

How you approach the examination is also crucial to a positive and successful outcome. Here is one approach which you could adopt. Feel free to adapt it to suit your individual personality and preferences. The important thing is that you feel comfortable and positive.

• Approach the whole day by planning it ahead of time. What image will you present? What will you do before the examination? What will you wear? Wear something you are comfortable in, and that presents the image you want to portray. What will you do afterwards? Who do you want to talk to following the meeting? How will you contact them? Have champagne on ice. Plan the interview to go the way you want it to go.
• Be confident in your approach to the examination. Speak slowly and clearly. Take a deep breath before you answer and smile.
• It is as much for your benefit as for the examiners - it should help you to assess the value of your own research as part of your learning process.
• Remember that you have done a considerable amount of very valuable research and that you are one of the foremost world experts in this specialised area. You will know more about your research than anyone else in the examination room!

This looks really useful, thanks! I'm writing up at the moment, so it's a good reminder checklist for my methodology, intro and conclusion sections.

Good luck with your viva preparation - it sounds like you know what you're doing, as long as you don't get too anxious, though that's totally understandable!

Thanks so much for posting all the tips below - I'm not planning on submitting til September but still have a periodic panic about the viva!

With regard to your original question, is your external someone who has expertise in your methodology or your subject area (or both)? A friend of mine did a phd using visual methods (giving people cameras) and chose an external who also uses visual methods so the viva was almost exclusively about research methods and the actual research subject (the monument people were photographing) wasn't discussed much at all. I think it all depends on how contentious you think your research method is - if it's an accepted way of doing research in your field I wouldn't worry too much, they won't be out to get you! Congratulations on submitting!