A VIVA For Examiners

I use VIVA as a little acronym-tool for reflecting on one’s research ahead of the viva:

• Valuable (to others): what might someone else find useful in your work?
• Interesting (to you): what do you find fascinating about your work?
• Vague (or unclear): what do you find difficult to talk about or explain?
• Ask (your examiners): given the chance, what would you ask your examiners at the viva?

It’s a helpful tool and can be particularly helpful when thinking about the thesis chapter-by-chapter.

I’ve found it useful sometimes to take the VIVA prompts and apply them to other aspects of the viva as well. For example, what if we took the prompts and considered your examiners?

• Valuable: what might your examiners find useful in your work?
• Interesting: how can you make connections between your research and their interests?
• Vague: do you foresee any difficulties in communicating your work to them?
• Ask: given the chance, what would you ask your examiners at the viva?

OK, OK, the last question didn’t change! But there are still four good reflection on your examiners ahead of your viva!