Questions about Questions

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In preparation for the defence of my comprehensive portfolio, I’m looking at the possible questions that my committee members, external examiners, and members of the community may ask during the defence of my portfolio. While some of these questions come from dissertation defence suggestions, I will focus on those that reference the portfolio and my PhD journey thus far, So, here is a short list of possible questions that may come. I’m now attempting to answer some of these in order to be prepared for iterations or variations on these questions. Just like a job interview, it’s best to be prepared for possible question directions.

PERSONAL – skin in the game?

  • What motivated and inspired you to do PhD studies?

ONTOLOGY; EPISTEMOLOGY; AXIOLOGY; PHILOSOPHY

  • What are the top 3 works that influenced your thinking?
    • Connect this to my own views/ ontology/ epistemology/ axiology
  • How did you deepen your understanding of …. E.g. learning?
  • How did the literature review contribute to the broader field of cognitive science?
  • What philosophy or methodology did you examine and ‘reject’?
  • What theories leave you flat?
  • Who are three influencers of your work? Name them and describe how they influence your thinking about the topic.

RESEARCH – Key learning; tensions

  • What is the central phenomenon you are exploring?
  • From ??? event/ example – what tensions need to be reconciled?
  • What tensions are you facing as a scholar? What are you grappling with, struggling with?
  • Describe one or two power dynamics in your readings / research?
  • Have you identified your PhD dissertation area and/or topic? if so, what is it? What have you accomplished with respect to furthering your PhD research?
  • What potential ethics constraints do you perceive facing?

METHODOLOGY; METHODS;

  • For your research methodology how do you propose documenting and analyzing the research based on the methods you are considering?
  • How do you navigate and/or describe -[name a specific one] -approach?
  • What is your understanding of -[name a specific one]- framework or model? 
  • What is your definition of ??? e.g. multimedia; crystallization;

RESEARCH SKILLS

  • Previous research experiences? How do these support your research at the doctoral level?
    • Describe ONE previous research-related activity in which you have participated. What concrete results were produced by this activity?
  • What are your current research or academic writing activities?
  • What are your research goals for next academic year?
  • What skills or issues do you perceive needing to acquire to effectively complete the research? Are there research-skills areas in which you need to improve; if so, describe them and your plans to achieve the improvements?

Additional sources for questions:

  1. Nasty PhD Questions https://pages.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~saul/wiki/uploads/Chapter1/NastyPhDQuestions.html
  2. Top 40 Viva questions http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/ResearchEssentials/?p=156
  3. Practice Viva Questions: https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/doctoralcollege/training/eresources/study-guides/viva/prepare/questions
  4. NUGalaway Viva guide: https://www.nuigalway.ie/media/graduatestudies/files/phdvivaguide/phd_viva_guide.pdf
  5. 40 practice questions: https://ndphblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/40-practice-questions-for-viva-preparation/