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Doctoral Education: Research-Based Strategies for Doctoral Students, Supervisors and Administrators pp 97–114Cite as

Making Sense of the Doctoral Dissertation Defense: A Student-Experience-Based Perspective

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Abstract

An oral defense of a written dissertation is a requirement for most doctoral programs in the world, yet little has been written about this exam. The numerous how-to guides tend to focus on offering “survival strategies” to doctoral students and have largely failed to reveal the nature of the defense. Also missing in these books is doctoral student voices about the experience of defending their dissertation. This chapter explores the nature of the doctoral dissertation defense and its significance in the doctoral experience. It synthesizes ideas from how-to guides, findings from the existing research literature, and findings from the author’s ongoing study. In particular, the chapter draws on interviews with recent PhD graduates as well as observation notes taken by the author (a PhD candidate) from several successful dissertation defenses in order to open up a space for doctoral student voices about this exam. It also raises questions for supervisors and their doctoral students to consider and discuss when preparing for the dissertation defense.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Please see Further Reading for research literature that is not listed in the References.

  2. 2.

    All the defenses observed have been passes and all the doctoral candidates interviewed have been asked to make only minor changes.

  3. 3.

    All of the doctoral candidates were called “Dr. X” right after their dissertation defense.

References

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  • Trafford, V., & Leshem, S. (2002). Anatomy of a doctoral viva. Journal of Graduate Education, 3, 33–41.

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  • Wallace, S. (2003). Figuratively speaking: Six accounts of the PhD viva. Quality Assurance in Education, 11(2), 100–108.

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  • Wallace, S., & Marsh, C. (2001). Trial by ordeal or the chummy game? Six case studies in the conduct of the British PhD viva examination. Higher Education Review, 34(1), 35–59.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, H3A 1Y2, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Shuhua Chen

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  1. Shuhua Chen
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Correspondence to Shuhua Chen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. McGill University, McTavish St. 3700, Montreal, H3A 1Y2, Québec, Canada

    Lynn McAlpine

  2. Fac. Education, Simon Fraser University, University Drive 8888, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada

    Cheryl Amundsen

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Chen, S. (2011). Making Sense of the Doctoral Dissertation Defense: A Student-Experience-Based Perspective. In: McAlpine, L., Amundsen, C. (eds) Doctoral Education: Research-Based Strategies for Doctoral Students, Supervisors and Administrators. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0507-4_6

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