The Doctoral Viva: Questions for, with and to Candidates (or supervisors)

Martin Cortazzi, Lixian Jin

Abstract


This paper presents questions within a consideration of the nature of doctoral viva examinations from an international viewpoint. We argue that preparation for the viva should begin early - certainly not just immediately after the thesis submission. Key viva questions can be used in a preparatory process with supervisors over time to develop candidates’ thesis thinking and research capability. The paper gives guidance and advice for candidates (and for supervisors to help candidates) about how to prepare practically for the viva. More importantly this should help them to enter the mindset of examiners. This enables candidates to enter fully into discussion of a thesis confidently and enthusiastically, to share their research thinking in a focussed manner which takes broad issues into account. In a detailed Appendix, we share a repertoire of 60 examples of generic viva questions which are commonly asked in many international contexts, together with guidance about answers in brackets. Using these iteratively with supervisor help, candidates are encouraged to generate their own specific questions as part of a formative research process. Viva preparation guided by key questions can begin early as an inherent part of the research-and-writing process: questions are first for candidates, then developed with candidates, and then finally in a viva put to candidates. The questions are a framework for supervisors, too, who are often examiners themselves.

Keywords


The Doctoral Viva, Candidate Preparation with Supervisors, Questions in Vivas and Doctoral Research

Full Text:

PDF

References


Bitzer, E. (2014). Learning the language of the doctorate: doctorateness as a threshold concept in doctoral literacy. Per Linguam, 30(3), 39-52.

Burner, T., Bjerkholt, E., Gaathaug, A. G., Kleiven, S., & Ljoså, T. M. (2020). Doctorateness across higher education institutions in Norway, Uniped, 43 (1), 3-18.

Brien, D. L., Batty, C., Ellison, E., & Owens, A. (Eds.) (2019). The doctoral experience: Stories from the creative arts and humanities. Palgrave Macmillan.

Carter, S. (2008). Examining the doctoral thesis: a discussion. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 45(4), 365-374.

Carter, S. (2012). English as an additional language (EAL) viva voce: The EAL doctorate oral examination experience. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 37(3), 271-284.

Cornér, S., Pyhälto, K., & Löfström, E. (2019). Supervisors’ perceptions of primary resources and challenges of the doctoral journey. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 31(3), 365-377.

Crossoard, B. (2011). The doctoral viva as a cultural practice: The gendered production of academic subjects.

Gender and Education, 23(3), 313-329.Dally, K., Holbrook, A., Graham, A., & Lawry, M. (2004). The processes and parameters of fine art PhD examination. International Journal of Educational Research, 41, 1360162.

Delamont, S., Atkinson, P., & Parry, O. (2004). Supervising the doctorate, a guide to success. Open University Press.

Denholm, C. & Evans, T. (Eds.) (2007). Supervising the doctorate downunder, keys to effective supervision. ACR Press.

Denicolo, P., Duke, D., & Reeves, J. (2020). Delivering inspiring doctoral assessment. Sage.

Dobson, S. (2018). Assessing the viva in higher education, chasing moments of truth. Springer.

Finn, J. A. (2005). Getting a PhD, an action plan to help manage your research, your supervisor and your project. Routledge.

Jackson, C., & Tinkler, P. (2001). Back to basics: A consideration of the purposes of the PhD viva. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 26(4), 355-366.

Jonghin, G. (2010). A short guide to oral assessment. Leeds Metropolitan University & University of Wollongong.

Kelly, F. (2010). Reflecting on the purpose of the PhD oral examination, Research Note. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 45 (1), 77-83.

Kiley, M., Holbrook, A., Lovat, T., Fairbairn, H., Starfield, S., & Paltridge, B. (2018). An oral component in PhD examination in Australia. Australian Universities’ Review, 60(1), 25-34.

Lantsoght, E. O. L. (2018) The A-Z of the PhD trajectory: a practical guide for a successful journey. Springer.

Lee, L., Blackmore, B., & Seal, E. (Eds.) (2013). Research journeys: a collection of narratives of the doctoral experience. Cambridge Scholars.

Leonard, D. (2001). A woman’s guide to doctoral studies. Open University Press.

Lovat, T., Holbrook, A., Bourke, S., Fairbairn, H., Kiley, M., Paltridge, B. & Starfield, S. (2015). Examining doctoral examination and the question of the viva. Higher Education, (3), 5-23.

Mežek, Š., & Swales, J. (2016). PhD defences and vivas. In Hyland and P. Shaw (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of English for Academic Purposes (pp. 361-375). Routledge.

Mullins, G., & Kiley, M. (2002). ‘It’s a PhD, not a Nobel Prize’: how experienced examiners assess research theses. Studies in Higher Education, 27(4), 369-386.

Murray, R. (2015). How to survive your viva, defending a thesis in an oral examination (3rd ed.). Open University Press.

Paltridge, B., & Starfield, S. (2007). Thesis and dissertation writing in a second language; a handbook for supervisors. Routledge.

Pearce, L. (2005). How to examine a thesis. Open University Press.

Phillips, E., & Pugh, D. S. (2015). How to get a PhD: a handbook for students (6th ed.). Open University Press.

Poole, B. (2014). The rather elusive concept of ‘doctorateness; a reaction to Wellington. Studies in Higher

tives from a sample of UK academics. London Review of Education, 13(3), 92-105.

Powell, S., & Green, H. (2007). The doctorate worldwide. Open University Press.

Salmon, P. (1992). Achieving a PhD – ten students’ experience. Trentham Books.

Smith, P. (2014). The PhD viva: how to prepare for your oral examination. Palgrave Macmillan.

Taylor, S; Kiley, M. & Humphrey, R. (2018) A handbook for doctoral supervisors (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Tinkler, P., & Jackson, C. (2000). Examining the doctorate: Institutional policy and the PhD examination process in Britain. Studies in Higher Education, 25(2), 167-180.

Tinkler, P., & Jackson, C. (2004). The doctoral examination process: A handbook for students, examiners and supervisors. Open University Press.

Tinkler, P., & Jackson, C. (2007). In the dark? Preparing for the PhD viva. Quality Assurance in Education, 10(2), 86-97.

Trafford, V., & Leshem, S. (2002a). Starting at the end to undertake doctoral research: Predictable questions as stepping stones. Higher Education Review, 34(1), 31-49.

Trafford, V., & Leshem, S. (2002b). Anatomy of a doctoral viva. Journal of Graduate Education, 3, 33-41

Trafford, V., & Leshem, S. (2008). Stepping stones to achieving your doctorate: focussing on the viva from the start. Open University Press.

Trafford, V., & Leshem, S. (2009). Doctorateness as a threshold concept. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 46(3), 305-316.

Trafford, V., Leshem, S., & Bitzer, E. (2014). Conclusion chapters in doctoral theses: some international findings,

Higher Education Review, 46(3), 52-81.Watts, J. H. (2012). Preparing candidates for the viva: issues for students and supervisors. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 36(3), 371-381.

Wellington, J. (2013). Searching for ‘doctorateness’. Studies in Higher Education, 38(10), 1490–1503.

Wellington, J. (2021) Examining doctoral work: exploring principles, criteria and processes. Routledge.

Wellington, J. J., Bathmaker, A. M., Hunt, C., McCulloch, G., & Sikes, P. (2005). Succeeding with your doctorate. Sage.

Wisker, G. (2012). The good supervisor. Palgrave Macmillan.

Yazdani, S., & Shokoosh, F. (2018). Defining doctorateness: A concept analysis. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 13, 31-48.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.9n.4p.2

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2013-2024 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.

International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies  

You may require to add the 'aiac.org.au' domain to your e-mail 'safe list’ If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox'. Otherwise, you may check your 'Spam mail' or 'junk mail' folders.