Introduction
The interview is a basic requirement of a Ph.D. thesis. To have a degree of Ph.D., you need to clear your defense. That defense is your interview conducted by a committee. When you go for a job application, HR conducts an in-depth interview. He evaluates how your skills are best suitable for the post. Also, he identifies how the skills written on your CV are accurate. These kinds of assessments are fundamental requirements.
Similarly, an interview for a Ph.D. thesis is necessary. You may have done amazing research, but it would be useless if you remain unable to justify it. The purpose of an interview is to evaluate how well you can justify your work. So, it needs great attention to clear every aspect of the interview. As per its importance, this article aims to discuss how to prepare interview questions for a Ph.D. thesis.
How to Prepare For a Thesis Interview?
At the time of defense, your prime concern is to prepare interview questions. Although questions need the main focus, still there are many other aspects to preparing for the thesis interview. Here, we will discuss these concerns briefly.
- Prepare interview questions based on their background information. For this, you have to make a strong grip on the literature review. Also, the research gap must be clear to you. Mention the gaps of study in front of senior researchers. Do not forget to add evidence and proper referencing. The Ph.D. level is an advanced academic level that does not facilitate immature acts. It is necessary to behave professionally. So, all of the rules and regulations must be followed.
- Arrange a mock interview and ask your senior to conduct it. The mock interview can save you from lots of blunders. A mock interview provides the same sitting and environment. It works as an opportunity of testing your verbal and non-verbal communication skills. It depends on the suitability of the interviewer and the type of interview. Anyone from the same field can conduct your mock interview. The important thing is that your interviewer must have a good set of questions. Also, he should be capable enough of giving you valuable feedback. The interviewer of a mock interview can also be your friend or elder sibling. You can go for your field’s seniors as well.
- To prepare interview questions, you can follow the guidelines of your department. By doing so, you can put your interview on the right track. It is better to highlight the major points or write them on a separate page. It can help you remember everything till the final defense.
- At the time you present and prepare interview questions, start recording on your camera. Once you are done with preparation and presentation, watch the recording and note down your mistakes.
- Make all innovative things clear in your thesis. Justify how your work is going to contribute to current or future problems.
What are the Most Frequently Asked Questions for a Ph.D.? Thesis?
Mostly the start of the interview is from the introduction. This question works well to make a smooth flow of conversation. It is better to be formal while introducing yourself. Use appropriate language and start describing your work. Mention the topic of the dissertation and your interest in it. In this way, you can connect with the audience. Do not go for personal opinions, but show your interest based on professional and logical terms. The committee will surely appreciate your professional approach. Later on, you can add your interest based on your skills.
After that, wait for the questions from the committee. It has been observed that the committee always asks stressful questions. The purpose of stressful questions is to check how you will handle the situation. All of the questions that work well to get insights into a project are expected to ask in an interview. The chances of close-ended questions are rare in an interview. To prepare interview questions, you have to work on open-ended questions. In these questions, you have to satisfy the committee. Well, it is a good chance to explain your thoughts in detail. The defense of a Ph.D. thesis is not for twenty to thirty minutes, but it requires a long time of at least two hours. So, you get a long time to justify your work.
The committee can also ask you for a presentation. So, keep your presentation data with you. Make your presentation with proper sectioning. There should be all major points, including an introduction, explanation body, and conclusion. In explaining the body, you have to discuss the literature review, methodology, analysis, and results. Add transitions and ensure proper formatting. The data added in the presentation must be at your fingertips. Add outlines with a brief description in slides, and keep their details in mind.
At the time you prepare interview questions, focus on the future scope of the study. In this, you have to explain how your thesis question is effective for future problems. Based on facts and findings, you have to prove that your research is worthy of real-life problems. The justification of research varies as per the type of problem discussed in it.
Another most frequently asked question is about the strategy and approach of a thesis. Collect valid points to share for the selection of a particular approach. If you have used qualitative research, you can add a reason for something related to the hypothesis. When you design a hypothesis, you can test it through the qualitative research method only. In this case, quantitative research cannot work. On the other hand, quantitative research is fine for addressing the rate of impact for a specified problem. Similarly, you can justify the data collection technique and relevant analysis.
Final Thoughts
You can prepare interview questions by following the above-mentioned points. Make short notes and write influencing tips on that. When you prepare interview questions, there should not be any confusion related to your thesis. Review interview criteria and spend some time identifying the assessment techniques of the committee. In the end, dress well and confidently enter the room where you have to present your thesis.
