Assessing the mock viva: the experiences of British doctoral students

Abstract

Many postgraduate students in Britain experience a ‘mock’ viva some time before their ‘real’ one, but little has been published on this aspect of gaining a Ph.D. or professional doctorate. In this study questionnaire data on the experiences and feelings of 29 UK postgraduate students concerning their mock vivas are summarized. The results suggest that there are considerable disparities in procedures within and across institutions, and that students are frequently asked different questions in the mock and the real viva. Nonetheless, these mock vivas were judged to be helpful by 26 (90%) of the students concerned. The implications of these findings for institutions, departments and doctoral students are discussed.

Notes

* Corresponding author. Department of Psychology, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK. Email: [email protected]

Three videos on the viva are: Green, D. H. (1998) The postgraduate viva: a closer look (Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University); Hockey, J. (1995) Strategies and tactics in the supervision of research students (Cheltenham, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Education); Murray, R. (1998) The viva (Glasgow, Centre for Academic Practice, University of Strathclyde; contact person: Susan Mitchell).

Information on the practice of postgraduate students reading a mock thesis and then suggesting questions for discussion is available from Dr Vernon Trafford, Centre for Organizational Research, Ashcroft International Business School, Anglia Polytechnic University, Danbury, Essex CM3 4AT, UK.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

James Hartley *

* Corresponding author. Department of Psychology, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK. Email: [email protected]