How to excel in your doctoral viva offers an accessible guide to approaching and preparing for a PhD viva examination. The book explains what the viva is, how the process works, and what the purpose of the viva is. It guides the reader through the course of preparing for their viva examination, with chapters focusing on organisation to dealing with viva concerns. Contributions from over 25 academics ranging from critical care to theology provide a unique insight into the experiences of PhD candidates and examiners, and make this book an invaluable resource for students completing PhDs across the sciences.
The viva is the oral examination of your PhD thesis. It's the last step towards that "Dr." title and is not to be taken lightly.But that doesn't mean it should be feared. This book will help you to approach the viva with confidence. It includes insights into what your examiners are looking for as well as a useful guide to the steps you can take to make sure you are fully prepared to defend your thesis.The toolkit includes 100 sample questions to help you anticipate what the examiners might ask you about *your research question*the literature*your methodology*your findings and conclusions*the contribution your research makes*your development as a researcher, and*your future plans.It also provides more than 25 tips to help you prepare effectively for the viva, and to help you to be at your best on the day.
"This book is a toolbox for PhD students to plan and prepare for the PhD defence regardless of their scientific discipline or location. The authors discuss various defence formats that are used internationally and identify the main differences and similarities. With international examples, practical strategies, and tips from former PhD students and supervisors, this book unpacks the principles and unwritten rules underpinning the defence. Addressing planning and preparing for the doctoral defence, and what to do afterwards, this book covers topics such as: understanding your defence format preparing for committee questions preparing mentally and dealing with anxiety dealing with corrections, finalizing your graduation requirements and marking the end of your PhD trajectory. This book is crucial reading for students across the world looking to defend their PhD thesis, and also for their supervisors and examiners"--
This textbook is a guide to success during the PhD trajectory. The first part of this book takes the reader through all steps of the PhD trajectory, and the second part contains a unique glossary of terms and explanation relevant for PhD candidates. Written in the accessible language of the PhD Talk blogs, the book contains a great deal of practical advice for carrying out research, and presenting one’s work. It includes tips and advice from current and former PhD candidates, thus representing a broad range of opinions. The book includes exercises that help PhD candidates get their work kick-started. It covers all steps of a doctoral journey in STEM: getting started in a program, planning the work, the literature review, the research question, experimental work, writing, presenting, online tools, presenting at one’s first conference, writing the first journal paper, writing and defending the thesis, and the career after the PhD. Since a PhD trajectory is a deeply personal journey, this book suggests methods PhD candidates can try out, and teaches them how to figure out for themselves which proposed methods work for them, and how to find their own way of doing things.
'It also incorporates a wealth of information that most supervisors and examiners only acquire through years of experience... this book deserves to be widely read and, if it is, it should contribute to an improvement in the quality of both research degree examining and the student's performance at the viva.' Professor Diana Woodward, University Director of Research, Napier University, Edinburgh and retiring UKCGE Executive Committee Member 'importantly the book deals with perspectives of all three concerned parties, i.e., the candidate, examiner and supervisor. It is . . . a very useful guide to appreciate and prepare for the different stages of the doctoral examination process.' Higher Education Quarterly What is the viva and how can students prepare for it? What should supervisors consider when selecting PhD examiners? How should examiners assess a doctoral thesis and conduct the viva? The doctoral examination process has been shrouded in mystery and has been a source of anxiety and concern for students, supervisors and examiners alike. But now help is at hand. This book sheds new light on the process, providing constructive ways of understanding the doctoral examination, preparing for it and undertaking it. This book stands alone in the field due to the extensive research undertaken by the authors. Over a four year period, surveys and interviews were undertaken with candidates and academics from a wide range of disciplines throughout Britain. Outcomes and ideas from the research have been united to provide the most comprehensive information available. Real life accounts and case studies are combined with useful advice, tasks and checklists to create an illuminating handbook. This user-friendly book is a vital resource for anyone involved in the doctoral process. No doctoral candidate, examiner or supervisor should be without it.
The number of doctorates being awarded around the world has almost doubled over the last ten years, propelling it from a small elite enterprise into a large and ever growing international market. Within the context of increasing numbers of doctoral students this book examines the new doctorate environment and the challenges it is starting to face. Drawing on research from around the world the individual authors contribute to a previously under-represented focus of theorising the emerging practices of doctoral education and the shape of change in this arena. Key aspects, expertly discussed by contributors from the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Africa, Sweden and Denmark include: the changing nature of doctoral education the need for systematic and principled accounts of doctoral pedagogies the importance of disciplinary specificity the relationship between pedagogy and knowledge generation issues of transdisciplinarity. Reshaping Doctoral Education provides rich accounts of traditional and more innovative pedagogical practices within a range of doctoral systems in different disciplines, professional fields and geographical locations, providing the reader with a trustworthy and scholarly platform from which to design the doctioral experience. It will prove an essential resource for anyone involved in doctorate studies, whether as students, supervisors, researchers, administrators, teachers or mentors.
With a heavily revised format in consideration of the recent DCH clinical examination changes, this new edition of the comprehensive revision guide provides the candidate with a definitive, one-stop revision resource. Familiarise yourself with the revised format of the examination, including revised timings Learn your revision needs through plentiful scenarios and worked examples Study using the wealth of detailed revision guidance, exam tips, diagrams, and practice cases Written by an experienced author team with extensive knowledge of the exam through its role teaching DCH courses, this title is currently the only revision guide that is focused on the clinical part of the DCH examination. Get Through DCH Clinical is essential reading and revision material for postgraduate candidates preparing for the clinical part of the DCH examination.
This book is a guide to the practical activities, strategies and tools used by effective PhD supervisors. It looks at the main processes that relate to PhD supervision: the personal motivations of supervisors, recruitment, clarifying expectations, how to run productive meetings, providing effective feedback, academic writing, the interpersonal challenges that arise during the PhD, the PhD examination, and professional development. We address these key supervisory practices by offering a range of practical advice and activities that can inform and guide supervisors. Throughout the book, we highlight examples of good and bad practice that are inspired by real-life examples. The book provides a range of templates and supports that supervisors can provide to their PhD students. This is one of our strongest motivations for writing this text ¿ to help supervisors to improve the experience of doctoral research not just for themselves, but also for their PhD students.
Effective relationship management at work is crucial for business success – it affects employee performance and wellbeing, as well as the recruitment and retention of talent. Yet relationship management is demanding to handle well. Professionals face a large number of challenges in the workplace that are relationship-related, ranging from upsetting or annoying incidents, to loneliness and exclusion, problems of criticism and opposition, and unhealthy cultural atmospheres with inadequate psychological safety. This book provides a powerful set of tools and concepts for leaders, managers, and employees of all levels to deal with relationship challenges at work with greater success. It does not offer simplistic tips or easy fixes. Rather, it helps people address the challenges for themselves – to ‘read’ the context so that they can identify the factors giving rise to the people problems or risks they are facing. Then they will be able to select the most suitable strategies for overcoming the challenges. Part 1 introduces the issues at stake and the main factors affecting rapport at work. Part 2 deals with key relationship challenges at work (e.g. discord and disagreement, exclusion, uncooperative colleagues, difficult bosses, problematic employees) and presents a suite of tools for addressing them. The tools are all underpinned by an empirically robust conceptual framework – the TRIPS rapport management framework. Part 3 explains the TRIPS conceptual framework in more detail, drawing particularly on psychological and pragmatic theories and findings on relationship management. TRIPS is an acronym for the key factors that need to be taken into account when managing rapport: the Triggers (6 key things people value in working relationships) that give rise to rapport Reactions (e.g. annoyance, upset) if not handled well during the Interactions (what is said and done), all of which are influenced by the People involved and by their situational contexts, Settings. Part 4 provides templates for the tools, TRIPS concepts and strategies that readers can use and apply in their own contexts. Authentic case studies are used throughout the book and are complemented by a range of activities. The book will be valuable to a wide audience: - Professionals wanting to improve their own relationship building capabilities - Learning and Development and HR practitioners who want to develop collaborative, inclusive workplaces by helping leaders and colleagues with their relationship building skills - Consultants who provide support in this area and would like a clear and robust framework for designing their development initiatives, along with case study examples and follow-up activities; - Students and scholars in the fields of pragmatics, politeness and rapport theory, and positive communication who would value the latest conceptual thinking in the field and handy access to key concepts.
