The Ph.D. Viva as Assessment: Questions of Role and Contribution

• In Event: International Practices in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education

Abstract

In many countries, PhD examination includes a viva or oral as well as written report from examiners. While the viva attracts attention in the doctoral literature, the emphasis is less on assessment characteristics than experience of the event. The study reported here is one of the first to explore in any depth the nature of judgements made by examiners, using documentation from New Zealand and England. Findings confirm that the assessment role of the viva is primarily one of fine-tuning the thesis and confirming the recommendation. In a third of reports the viva is never mentioned. When it is, examiners emphasise shortcomings of the thesis rather than those assessment criteria that the viva is more suited and purported to address.

Authors

• Allyson Patricia Holbrook, The University of Newcastle

• Hedy Fairbairn

• Sid F. Bourke, The University of Newcastle

• Margaret Mary Kiley, The Australian National University

• Terence Lovat, The University of Newcastle