The Oral Defense: Learner Know Thy Research!

By Dr Lonny Ness

If you are at the oral defense stage for your dissertation/thesis/doctoral study! - Congratulations

The oral defense is much feared, yet desired, for most doctoral students as it marks the end of the road. However, the oral defense also possibly represents the biggest challenge and test culminating one’s doctoral journey. According to SMU (n.d., para. 1)

An oral defense or viva is an oral examination in which a student defends his/her thesis to an audience of experts as part of the requirement for his/her degree.

Further, the term “defend” is very important to help understand the nature of the oral defense. According to Merriam-Webster (n.d.), the term “defend” includes the following:

1. To maintain or support in the face of argument or hostile criticism
   // defend a theory
   // couldn't defend their actions
2. To prove (something, such as a doctoral thesis or dissertation) valid by answering questions in an oral exam
   // preparing to defend her thesis

Based on the above, to defend one’s dissertation orally (i.e., in person, with the committee present, along with potentially other school officials and students) requires an intimate knowledge of the research and analysis that was conducted - including any possible questions pertaining to the study.

From experience, I’ve concluded that the oral defense serves two primary purposes:

1. To satisfy academic criteria that the completed study is (a) rigorous, (b) reflects doctoral-level research, and (c) was, in fact, conducted by the learner
2. To gather the committee and interested parties in celebration of the work completed by the learner.

Describing the oral defense, Paul T. P. Wong, Ph.D., C.Psych., Former Research Director, Graduate Program in Counseling Psychology, Trinity Western University, Langley, BC, Canada, offers some useful insights regarding preparing for the oral defense - including being well prepared - academically, mentally, and physically. See Dr. Wong’s blog post for a full list.

Based on my experience in supervising (chairing) many mentees through this important phase is the criteria to be prepared. One would assume that after years of work on their dissertation that preparation would not be a problem, yet, I’ve seen instances where mentees were not prepared as evidenced by:

• Having to look up portions of their research to respond to questions (awkward during the defense)
• Not knowing how to answer (typically, a lack of understanding regarding the work conducted)

In the latter instance, the student hired a statistician to analyze the collected data and had no idea why the null hypotheses were rejected, or not. This was indeed unfortunate as the learner did not pass the oral defense at that time, but fortunately, was allowed to reschedule for a successful defense.

In conclusion, BE PREPARED! Be responsible for your own research - even if someone else was hired to assist, such as a coach, editor, or statistician. Prepare and follow your presentation speaking notes and avoid reading from the slides (if used). Again, be confident in the knowledge of your dissertation; thereby, convincing the attendees (committee) that you are indeed the one who conducted the research and gain their confidence in you as the research and associated study.

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Best Doctoral Success,

Dissertation Prep

REFERENCES

Merriam-Webster (nd.). Defend. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defend

Singapore Management University [SMU] (2019, n.d.). Dissertation/thesis research and writing: 5. Oral defense. Retrieved from http://researchguides.smu.edu.sg/c.php?g=421745&p=6436324

Wong, P. (2013, Aug., 23). How to prepare for the oral defense of your thesis/dissertation. Retrieved from http://www.drpaulwong.com/how-to-prepare-for-the-oral-defense-of-your-thesisdissertation/