You Are Here

Tag: viva expectations

Nathan

Arguing The Point

Daily Post

Defending your thesis doesn’t mean that you need to argue throughout the viva. Defending can simply be supporting what you’ve done and written, providing clarity if something isn’t as clear as you hoped or confirmation if your examiners just need a little more.

There is a possibility though that you might need to argue. You might need to say that you believe or know that you are right. You might need to say that you believe or know that your examiner’s opinion is not correct, incomplete or not seeing the whole picture.

Remember that arguing the point does not need to be assertive. You don’t need to dial your speech up to 11 to win!

Ask questions. Listen carefully. Think even more carefully. Speak clearly to get your reasons across. And be sure you know your examiner’s reasons before you argue against their point or opinion.

Thesis defence does not imply that it is under attack. It certainly doesn’t mean that you are under attack.

Nathan

Qualified

Daily Post

Three qualified people is what you have, at a minimum, at your viva.

Every viva in the UK has one candidate and at least two examiners.

The latter are qualified because of how they are selected. They need to meet criteria, such as having a doctorate, experience and training. There will be a specific reason why they were asked to be your examiners rather than someone else.

You are qualified because you did the work. You invested the hours. You made something. So you’re capable now and qualified to be at your viva.

 

Remember: qualified is not a synonym for perfect. No-one at your viva is perfect or is expected to be perfect. You’re all just continuing to demonstrate your best and most capable selves.

Nathan

Normal vs Typical Vivas

Daily Post

The normal viva doesn’t exist. It’s a myth. There’s far too much variety in research, individuals and circumstances to allow for a normal viva.

There are typical vivas. There are patterns, trends, regulations and processes that produce reliable expectations.

For example, vivas typically last several hours, conclude with a short intermission while the (typically) two examiners confer and most often result in success – with candidates being asked most often of all to complete minor corrections.

There is a tension between the seemingly opposite ideas that vivas are unique and vivas follow patterns.

Explore the patterns to prepare for your unique experience.

Nathan

It’s One Day

Daily Post

That’s the viva: one day after many days.

A few hours after several thousand hours.

One conversation after many conversations.

One more challenge after many, many challenges.

 

Your viva is a few hours on one day. A conversation that matters. A real challenge after you have already overcome a lot of challenges. It’s not trivial but nor is it so far above and beyond anything you’ve done and everything you’re capable of.

You did the work over many thousands of hours. Show up and do a little more.

Nathan

Advice > Anecdote

Daily Post

Your friend’s experience might be useful to know but has to be placed into the wider viva context.

One good story shouldn’t be enough to help you feel better about the viva. Similarly, one person’s negative experience shouldn’t shift you to thinking that your viva will be bad too.

Ask others for help and ask for their stories but consider them alongside the wider advice about the viva, in terms of prep, expectations and approach. One story can be interesting; the patterns and trends in many stories can be valuable.

Anecdotes about the viva are good but good advice is much, much more helpful.

Nathan

Just Breathe

Daily Post

The viva is not a race, a quiz, an interview, a trial or an ordeal.

When your examiners ask a question, you can take your time.

Breathe. Just breathe.

Take a beat to check you understand the question or comment. Take a beat to think about how you’ll respond.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Then speak – unless you need more time to think, in which case take more time to think.

The viva is not a race.

Nathan

Look & Find

Daily Post

Look for the good stuff in your thesis. You might find typos or mistakes. These are good to know about, but it’s far more important to look for the contribution.

Look for people to help you get ready for your viva. Look for the right people: ask early for help, be clear and make sure you ask people who can really help you to get ready.

(and when you can be someone who offers help to others getting ready)

Look for expectations about the viva. If you’re not sure what to expect take the time to find out more. Again, ask the right people the right questions and you’ll find what you need to get a good sense of the viva.

For so much of the viva and viva prep, you have to see things clearly. And to do that you have to take the first step and look.

Nathan

Any Questions

Daily Post

It’s possible to make well-educated guesses about the questions you’ll get at your viva. You know a lot of the material your examiners will want to talk about. Even if you can’t speculate on specific questions you can have a good understanding of themes that might come up.

Any question at the viva is being asked for a purpose: your examiners might want to know more, understand something more clearly, explore around a topic, check your thinking or generally move the discussion forward.

Any question at the viva is being asked with the expectation that you will respond. You listen, pause, breathe, maybe check your thesis, maybe make a note, think a bit and then talk. You need to add to the discussion. Give more evidence that you are a capable researcher.

And don’t forget that you can ask questions at the viva too. Any question you have for your examiners is fine. Seek their opinion, ask for clarity and explore what you need to – but keep in mind that your priority has to be making sure that you engage with what they are asking.

Nathan

The Viva Roles

Daily Post

Examiners: two academics who accept the opportunity to examine your thesis and you. They have training, they prepare, they plan and they’re ready to do what’s required. They want to do the job well. They only take the role on if it seems interesting and right for them. They’re at your viva for a good reason, even if some of their questions might seem difficult.

 

Observers: a category that covers two particular sub-classes, the Independent Chairperson and your Supervisor.

  • The Independent Chair’s specific role is to make sure that the viva goes well. They might seem like a passive role – if they’re present at all, as not all vivas have Independent Chairs. They’ll steer the discussion if they think they need to. They’ll support newer academics taking on an Examiner role if that’s necessary.
  • If your Supervisor is observing then they are only observing; like the Chair they can’t ask or respond to questions. They sit back and watch. You get to decide if they’re present or not.

 

The Candidate: that’s you! How would you describe what you can do and what you’re there to do?

Nathan

Beyond Belief

Daily Post

It’s OK to hope that your viva will go well…

…but remember that you can do more than hope.

  • You have years of work leading up to your thesis submission.
  • You can learn about the process and what to expect.
  • You can take steps to make sure you’re prepared.

You can do a lot more than hope that you will be ready for your viva.

1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 105