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Nathan

Whose Fault Is It?

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It’s not uncommon to ask who is responsible if something goes wrong. After all, things don’t just happen, someone has to do (or not do) something. In your PhD journey there could be lots of people involved when something is wrong: the person who wrote a paper missed something, your supervisor wasn’t available to help or maybe you made a mistake.

Asking “Who?” is typical human behaviour but it might be less helpful than asking “Why?”

When we ask “Who?” we have a name. When we ask “Why?” we’re working towards a reason.

If something went wrong and you ask “Why?” then you can start to unpick the reasons, the impacts and the resolutions. You see more and can explain more (whether you’re doing this kind of exploration at the viva or in advance).

 

Don’t forget you could also ask “Why?” things worked out well during your PhD too. Why did you arrive at submission with a good thesis? Why was the contribution in that thesis sound? Why was the work that you did ultimately of a good standard?

Although, at the root of all of these questions what we’re really asking is “Who did this?”

 

PS: There are lots of reflections and more viva help in the latest issue of Viva Survivors Select, which I released earlier this week. The 2025 Issue collects twenty of my favourite blog posts from last year and adds two new pages of viva help. Want a helpful viva prep game? You’ll find it in the latest issue here 🙂 And please spread the word if you can!

Nathan

Offering Why

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At the root of a lot of viva questions and discussions is a why.

Why did you do this? Why does it matter? Why is it helpful?

Why this and not that? Why now? Why did you choose X over Y?

It could be explicit or quiet, it could be a why you have thought about for years or a why you are finding for the first time.

As you get ready for your viva, consider all the whys you know in your preparations. Consider what happens as you rehearse and offer whys in your mock viva and other spoken preparations.

What can you do to help yourself be more ready to talk about the whys?

Nathan

Find Your Whys

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Why did you want to do a PhD?

Why did you pursue the research that you’ve explored?

Why did you keep going when things were tough?

Why do you believe your work makes a contribution?

Why do you believe you’re ready for your viva?

 

When you have answers to all of these then you’re in a good place to succeed at your viva.

Nathan

Your Reasons

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There’s a reason you did your PhD.

There’s a reason you used the methods you used.

There are reasons why you think what you think.

There is a reason for the typo at the bottom of page 72.

There are reasons for the work you did and didn’t do.

There are many reasons why you’ll succeed at your viva.

When you can reflect and understand enough of the whys and reasons of your PhD journey then you’re probably ready to share them with your examiners – and ready to succeed.

Nathan

“I Had To”

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Those three words might be true but they will never be enough for a response to a question in your viva.

There’s always a reason and it’s always worth digging into. You always need the “because” or the “why” behind doing things a certain way in your PhD.

 

“I had to” might be the first words that come to mind with something difficult or even something particularly challenging in your research journey. If you know of situations like this ahead of your viva then it will be helpful to consider what else you could say. If it’s a sensitive topic you’ll probably still need to say something more than “I had to” – so think in advance what you might feel comfortable saying.

Nathan

Not The Reason

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I’ve lost count of the number of PhD candidates who’ve told me that they’re worried about receiving critical questions.

Some are worried about particular criticisms. Some are worried about hypothetical questions. Some are worried about the questions that they haven’t anticipated.

All are being rational.

It’s not that they should worry, more that it’s not irrational to worry about critical viva questions. Given the amount of work involved in getting to the viva – and given the outcome that a candidate would be hoping for – it’s understandable to worry.

As ever, in situations where someone worries it helps to ask why.

  • If you’re worried about a particular criticism, why? What’s the reason?
  • If you’re worried about a particular hypothetical question, why? If you’ve thought about it, can’t you do something to think about how you might respond?
  • If you’re worried about the undefined mass of questions you’ve never considered, why? Is there nothing you can do to change how you feel?

I have a three-word aphorism that I always try to keep in mind (both for myself and others): work past worry. Worry is human, but action will always take you closer to resolving the situation than worrying alone.

If you worry, do something.

If you worry there’s a reason for that worry. If you do something you can work towards the concern being satisfied in some way.

Remember as well that whatever question your examiners ask, there is always a reason motivating them. If you’re not sure how to respond then try to consider the reason for their question in the first place.

Nathan

The Motivations

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What was your motivation for doing a PhD?

What was the motivation for exploring the topic that lead to your research contribution(s)?

Has your motivation changed during the course of your research?

What topics or themes motivate your examiners?

What questions do you think will motivate the discussion in your viva?

What will keep you motivated as you get ready for your viva?

And what motivates the personal confidence you feel?

 

Or another way to think about many parts of the PhD and viva process is always to look a little deeper and ask “Why?”

Nathan

Superlatives

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Here is a small reflection and summary exercise to help gather useful information before your viva. Four questions:

  • What’s the best part of your thesis?
  • What was the least useful period of research during your PhD?
  • What was the hardest thing you learned?
  • What is your proudest achievement?

Take a moment to reflect for each of these. Write down your thoughts in keywords or sentences. Reflect more and then dig deeper for each by asking yourself, “Why?”

  • Why is this the best part of your thesis?
  • Why was that the least useful period?
  • Why is that the hardest thing you learned?
  • Why is that your proudest achievement?

Reflection questions are helpful for shaking loose ideas that are worth remembering or considering more.

“Why?” often allows one to dig a little deeper.

Nathan

Ask Someone Why

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Faced with a difficult question or unexpected comment in the viva, perhaps the best thing you can do is ask why.

  • Ask your examiner(s) why that question is important.
  • Ask why a comment matters to them.
  • Ask why they think the way they think.

Or ask yourself why. Why have you gone blank? Why is something difficult? Why did you write something the way you did, or do something the way you have?

When you ask why you uncover some of the reasons beneath the surface of a question or comment. You take the first steps to being able to respond and participate in the discussion.

If a question or comment makes you pause, ask someone “Why?” and see where that leads.

Nathan

Ask Yourself Why

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When you’re getting ready for your viva it could help to ask yourself why a lot.

  • If something is particularly strong in your research: why is this good?
  • If you find a typo or a part that needs changing: why will that change make things better?
  • If you find yourself unsure about something: why are you unsure and what could you do?
  • If you feel nervous, confident, uncertain or amazing: why do you feel that way and what does that mean for you?

Whatever happens, whatever you find, what you feel – if you ask yourself why you can go a little deeper. Ask yourself why and you can uncover more.

Ask yourself why and you can find a way to become even more ready for your viva.

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