Guidance

on VIVA
PSM 1
by

Dr. Muzani Mustapa

 Guidance on what the VIVA
involves:
PSM Coordinator will let you know the :me
and date of your viva
Panel VIVA will ask you to tell them about
your research work (LKP) & bring your
RAW MATERIALS data
Obviously, by this point, Supervisor will
have read & assessed your LKP, so Panel
VIVA only want you to briey summarise
what you have done.
 The emphasis of the oral examination is on
discussing the research work undertaken
(Chapter 1-3). We will ask you detailed
questions about your work.

When we listen to your presentaRon,

we write notes and use the VIVA to go
through any questions raised by your
work, and any general comments on the
work.
 The ques:ons raised are usually things to
do with the specic details of what you
have (or haven't) written
e.g. such as you not giving details of how
your questionnaire sample was selected, or
failing to say whether your research
findings supported your hypothesis.
 Also, our questions and comments could
relate to things that you haven't covered
in your written work, but would be
expected to have read about - such as
how your work differs from any previous
dissertations related to your topic.
e.g. What is the DIFFERENCE between you and
other people who do similar work?
 Don't think that your moderator/panel
is being too tough - all they have to go
on is what you've written in the nal
document.
The better you have written it all up, the
easier it will be for the moderator (and
supervisor) to understand, and therefore
should result in them not needing to ask
as many detailed questions.
 The final interview shouldn't be anything
to worry about - you know your work
well, and you will be able to talk about
what you've done, why and how.
 TIPS TO CONSIDER BEFORE VIVA

1. RE-READ your PSM (LKP) from cover to

cover and respond to the enquiries.
 TIPS TO CONSIDER BEFORE VIVA
2. Can you ANSWER following ques:ons:
What have you researched?
What is your methodology?
Which areas of the thesis are parRcularly pivotal
or important? (MARK THESE SECTIONS IN YOUR PSM)
* What are the WEAKER points of your thesis? ;
Which parts might be considered weak? What will
u say if these areas are quesDoned?
What are your MOST IMPORTANT REFERENCES
(Primary/Secondary)
 HOW TO HANDLE DIFFICULT
QUESTIONS
1. If you dont understand, ask for clarification
2. If they (examiners) have a misconception
about your work, try to pin it down and
explain (BE POLITE)
3. If you think the question is irrelevant,
explain why you think so.
4. If you cannot answer, say so.

NEVER SAY MY SUPERVISOR ASKED ME TO DO THIS

 GENERAL QUESTIONS ASKED BY
EXAMINERS
1. Why you did this research?
2. Why is your research important?
3. What are your problem in the problem
statement
4. Have you answered your research questions?
5. Methodology:
Why have you done this way?
Why not that way?
What might u have done differently?
 YOU ARE ALSO BEING JUDGED FOR

CONFIDENT AND INDEPENDENCE

CREATIVE VIEW
STRUCTURE OF ARGUMENT
CONSISTENCY ON THEORITICAL AND
METHODOLOGICAL
Assessment sheet VIVA PSM 1 (10%)
Any sample of good presenta:on?

Are they (panel) listening?

Sample: overview research process
 ILLUSTRATE THE PROBLEM & ISSUES
Scaolding
involve in most Engineers and Done b
of the architects no previou y
s study
opera5ons on specify the
construc5on Factors of
Quality design, selec5on of
site quality,
(Kumar, 2013) scaolding
loca5on and
etc.
Impose huge
ESSENTIAL
por5on of cost, Objec5ve 2
TO
one of the most
ESTABLISH A
highly priced in Cost of
PROPER
preliminaries scaolding
COST
(Bajaj & Kumar,
ESTIMATE
1999)
No quan5ty of Objec5ve 1
Cost overrun in scaoldings in
scaolding is Quan5ty Bills of Method of
quite frequent Quan5ty and measurement
(Bajaj & Kumar, tender
1999) document
 MAPPING YOUR LITERATURE REVIEW to clearly show
link between sub-section and objectives jec5ve 1
ObMethod of Measurement
e 2
Objec5v of Scaolding:
Cost Elements of Types of a) Researchers:
scaolding: Scaoldings 1. Measure by wall area
1. Components Cost [(Cooper, 1945),
2. Installa5on Cost (Copper, 1959), and
3. Maintenance Cost Scaolding
(Foster, Trauner,
(Carr, 1989) and (Geddes, Components
Vespe & Chapman,
1996), (Nur Anassia, 1995)]
2013)
e 2
Objec5v Measurement and cost 2. Measure in number
Cos5ng Method for of scaolding [(Scaolding London,
Scaolding: n.d.) and (eHow, n.d)]
1. Add percentage to
trade item (as indirect 3. Measure in detail
works) Scaolding [(Adrian, 1982) and
[(Adrian, 1982)] erec5on process (Enterkin & Reynolds,
1972)]
2. Built up rate
Scaolding
[(Enterkin & Reynold, b) Soewares:
Materials
1972), (Ahon, 1975) 1. Glodon Soeware
and (Adrian, 1982) 2. BrandNet
Please show previous similar research :
address the gap and similarities with your study

Title Author Year Objec5ves Outcome

Jenis dan kos Nur 2013 1.Mengenalpas5 cara 1.Memilih

peranca bagi Anassia kontraktor berdasarkan
kerja kemasan Aiza menentukan jenis kegunaan jangka

E
luar bangunan peranca panjang,

L
2.Mengenalpas5 cara keselamatan dan kos

M P kontraktor
menghargakan
permulaan
2.Kenalpas5

E X A peranca bagi keja

kemasan luar
bangunan
komponen, luas
bangunan, jangka
hayat, wastage,
mengkira semua kos
yang terlibat guna
built up rate
Clearly present your ideas
Sample of clear & directive RESEARCH DESIGN
OBJECTIVES DATA NEEDED DATA RESPONDENTS JUSTIFICATION AND
GATHERED SIGNIFICANCE
Objec5ve 1 Semi- Method of Contractors: Qualita5ve
- To iden5fy structured Measurement Five large research
the method interview Five medium Measurement
used by the Five small usually done by
contractor to contractors
measure the * Each refer to Dierent sizes of
scaolding a ve storeys contractors might
works and below have dierent
projects op5ons for method
of measurement
and cost
Objec5ve 2 Document Cost Data Contractors as Iden5fy package
- To iden5fy Study above and cost provided
cost incurred by supplier
for the
Quota5on Five scaolding
scaolding
Supplies
works