Thesis Defence and Evaluation

Criteria
Examiners initial Questions:
What is this one about? Examiners have little
time available, so they want to extract the most
in the shortest time.
Does it cite the right things?
What is achieved? Do I believe it?
Are all the pieces there?
Is the argument clear?
What examiners are looking for?
Review of Literature

Methodology

Presentations of Results

Discussion & Conclusions

Review of Literature
To what extent is the review RELEVANT to the
research study?

Has the candidate slipped into Here is all I

know about x?

Is there evidence of CRITICAL APPRAISAL of

other work, or is the review just descriptive?
Review of Literature
How well has the candidate mastered the
THEORETICAL underpinnings?

Does the candidate make the LINKS between the

review & his/her methodology explicit?

Is there a SUMMARY of the essential features of

other work as it relates to this study?
Methodology
What PRECAUTIONS were taken against likely
sources of BIAS.

What are the LIMITATIONS in the

methodology? Is the candidate aware of this?

Is the methodology for DATA COLLECTION

APPROPRIATE?
Methodology
Are the techniques ANALYSIS PPROPRIATE?

In the circumstances, has the best methodology

been chosen?

Has the candidate give an ADEQUATE

JUSTIFICATION to the methodology?
Presentation of Results
Have the QUESTIOMS in fact been
ANSWERED?

Have the HYPOTHESES been TESTED?

Is the LEVEL & FORM of ANALYSIS

APPROPRIATE for the data?
Presentation of Results
Could the PRESENTATIONS of the results been
made clearer?

Are PATTERNS & TRENDS in the results

ACCURATELY indentified & summarized?
Discussion & Conclusions
Is the candidate aware of the possible limits to
reliability & validity of the work?

Have the MAIN POINTS to emerge from the

results been PICKED UP for discussion?

Are there LINKS made to the literature?

Discussion & Conclusions
Is there evidence of ATTEMPTS at theory
building or reconceptualisation of problems?

Are there speculations? Are they well grounded

in the results?
Assessment Criteria
Presentation & Clarity
The reader should be able to read the text
without difficulty (reader friendly).

The text should be clear & tell a story.

The reference list should be complete & accurate.

The thesis should be no longer than necessary.

Assessment Criteria
Integration & Coherence
There should be logical & rational links between
the component parts of the thesis.

There should be an intellectual WHOLENESS to

the thesis.
Assessment Criteria
Contribution to Knowledge (Masters)
Independent research based on sound
knowledge.

Evidence of exercise of independent thought.

Assessment Criteria
Contribution to Knowledge (Ph.D.)
Discovery of new knowledge.

Formation of theories

Innovative reinterpretation of known data &

established ideas.
Assessment Criteria
Originality & Creativity
Candidates own work.

Evidence of an appropriate level of independent

work.
Assessment Criteria
Review of Relevant Literature
Demonstration of detailed knowledge of original
sources.

Possession of a thorough knowledge of the field.

Understanding of the main theoretical &

methodological issues.
Assessment Criteria
Statement of Problem
The problem to be tackled in the research should
emerge naturally form the literature review.

The problem which has been identified should

be worthwhile investigating.

Clear & succinct statement of the problem

together with a set of questions/hypothesis/
Assessment Criteria
Methods of Enquiry Adopted
Appropriate justification of methods chosen.

Demonstration that methods employed have

been chosen through a conscious process of
deliberation.
Assessment Criteria
Analysis of Data
The analytic methods used need to be justified &
sufficient for the task.

Sensitivity to problems of reliability,

measurement error & sources of bias.

Understanding the assumptions behind the

test(s) employed.
Assessment Criteria
Analysis of Data
Analyses clearly linked to questions/hypotheses
posed.

Data presented in a well-structured way.

Demonstration of WHY each analysis was

conducted, HOW analysis was done & WHAT it
tell us about the data.
Assessment Criteria
Discussion of Outcomes
Discussion should summarise without repetition
what has been achieved in the research.

Links should be drawn between your work &

work reviewed in the literature review.

The main findings should be INTERPRETED &

related to theory.
Assessment Criteria
Discussion of Outcomes
There should be reflection of the research
process as a whole.

There should be a section discussing limitations

of research design.

There should be some POINTERS to future

work.
THESIS DEFENCE
Viva Voce means lively discussion.

The examiners may have decided before the

exam whether to pass you or not.

The viva is to check its your work.

A chance to clarify things that arent clear in the

thesis.
Tips for VIVA
Try to attend one or more thesis defenses prior
to yours focus on the interactions that occur.

Find opportunities to discuss your research with

your friends & colleagues listen carefully to
their questions.

Dont be overly defensive at your defense.

Tips for VIVA
Judge whether a particular remark by the panel
is a question that needs clarification or a mere
suggestion to be considered.

Do not be nervous.

Describe your work in a confident tone &

convincing manner.
Tips for VIVA
Avoid wordy power point presentation if you
cant help it, use highlighters (bold, italics,
underline, colours etc).

Stick to the time allocated (normally 15-20

minutes).

Before presentation, provide a list of papers

presented & published on your study (if you have).
Tips for VIVA
Dont spend too much time elaborating on the
title and introduction focus more on statement
of problem, methodology & findings.

Display main findings/trends need not give

too details analysis because examiners have
read them.

Highlight your contribution to knowledge.

Tips for VIVA
Prepare not more than 15 slides & not less than 8
slides.

Spend not more that 2 minutes per slides.

Avoid reading from the white board face the

audience & have eye contact with the panel.
Slides for VIVA
Title (1 slide)

Intro/Overview (1 slide)

Statement of Problem (1 slide)

Research Objectives
Research Questions/Hypotheses (1 or 2 slides)
Literature / Concepts Review (2-3 slides)
Previous research / research gaps ( 1 slide )
Slides for VIVA
Research Design / Methodology (2 or 3 slides):
Restated research questions: Variables
Types of research / approach
Setting / participants / Sampling
Data collection instrumentation and validity/ reliability
Data Analysis methods: statistics ? Significant?
Procedures

Findings / Results as per Research Questions / hypothesis ( about 4- 6 slides)

Discussion linked to theoretical foundations / previous research results

Conclusions / Main Implications of Findings / Recommendations (1 slide)

Contributions / Limitations & Suggestions for Future Work (1 slide)

VERDICT
Passed with no correction.

Passed subject to minor correction / amendment.

Passed with major/substantive revision/amendment.

Resubmission for examination.

Failed.
QUALITY
EXCEPTIONAL no correction (Fewer than 5%
worldwide)
EXCELLENT - very minor correction (Fewer
than 20% worldwide)
SATISFACTORY/FAIR major correction
(sound but lacks a compelling element is some
respect)
WEAK resubmission because the thesis has
fatal flaws.