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  • Evan John Evan John
  • 9 min read

Common Dissertation Defense Questions

Preparing for your dissertation defense can be tough. After months or even years of research, writing, and revisions, the defense is your opportunity to present your findings, demonstrate your expertise, and justify your work to a panel of scholars. One of the most effective ways to prepare is by anticipating the questions you will likely be asked. Whether you’re defending a master’s thesis or a doctoral dissertation, understanding the nature of these questions can help you approach your defense with clarity and poise.

Read also on the Final Dissertation Checklist

Most Common Dissertation Defense Questions 

SECTION 1: Research Motivation & Objectives

  1. What inspired you to pursue this research topic?
    Be honest but professional. Share how a gap in literature, a real-world problem, or a personal/professional experience led you to your topic.
    Example:
    During my internship in X industry, I noticed a recurring problem related to Y, which lacked academic attention. This motivated me to investigate it systematically.”

  2. What are the primary objectives of your study?
    Clearly list 2–4 research objectives that match your problem statement and research questions.
    Example:
    My objectives were to evaluate the impact of A on B, identify the moderating effect of C, and develop a framework for policy adoption.”

  3. How did you formulate your research questions?
    Explain how literature gaps or industry issues shaped your research questions.
    Example:
    Through a review of the existing literature, I realized that X was underexplored, which led me to frame a question specifically around its role in Y.”

  4. What is the significance of your study in your field?
    Focus on both theoretical and practical contributions.
    Example:
    This study advances theoretical understanding of X while offering practical tools for professionals in Y to solve Z.”

  5. How does your research address existing gaps in the literature?
    Be specific about what was missing and how you addressed it.
    Example:
    Most prior studies focused on developed economies, but my study examines the same variables in a developing country context.”

  6. What are the key hypotheses or assumptions underlying your study?
    Present your hypotheses or key assumptions with justifications.
    Example:
    Based on previous work, I hypothesized that higher trust in leadership positively influences employee innovation.”

  7. How did your research questions evolve?
    Show flexibility and intellectual growth.
    Example:
    Initially I focused on X, but after conducting a pilot study, I noticed more interest in Y, which led to refining my questions.”

  8. What challenges did you encounter in defining your research scope?
    Talk about how you narrowed your focus to remain feasible.
    Example:
    The topic was broad at first, but due to time and data constraints, I chose to focus on a specific sector.”

  9. How does your study contribute to the broader academic discourse?
    Tie your work to current debates or theoretical trends.
    Example:
    By integrating social identity theory into studies of brand loyalty, I extend its application to consumer behavior research.”

  10. What are the practical implications of your research findings?
    Explain who can use your results and how.
    Example:
    Nonprofit managers can use the insights from this study to optimize volunteer engagement strategies.”

SECTION 2: Methodology & Design

  1. Why did you choose your specific research design?
    Explain how your design fits your research goals.
    Example:
    A qualitative design was best suited to explore participants’ lived experiences with organizational change.”

  2. Can you justify your choice of research methods?
    Clarify how your method matches your research problem.
    Example:
    A mixed-methods approach allowed me to quantify patterns while exploring context through interviews.”

  3. How did you select your sample population?
    Describe your sampling strategy and its relevance.
    Example:
    I used purposive sampling to recruit teachers who had at least five years of experience with digital learning tools.”

  4. What data collection techniques did you employ?
    Describe the tools or techniques used.
    Example:
    I used a structured questionnaire followed by in-depth interviews to triangulate the results.”

  5. How did you ensure the reliability and validity of your data?
    Talk about pretesting, triangulation, coding methods, or statistical tests.
    Example:
    I conducted a pilot study and used Cronbach’s alpha to test internal consistency of the scale.”

  6. Were there any ethical considerations in your study?
    Discuss confidentiality, consent, and approval.
    Example:
    All participants signed consent forms, and I obtained approval from the institutional review board.”

  7. How did you address potential biases in your research?
    Mention strategies like randomisation, reflexivity, or peer review.
    Example:
    I kept a reflexive journal and involved another researcher in coding qualitative data.”

  8. What limitations did you face in your methodology?
    Acknowledge and explain how you mitigated them.
    Example:
    While my sample was limited geographically, I ensured diversity in participant backgrounds.”

  9. How did you handle unforeseen challenges during data collection?
    Show adaptability and problem-solving.
    Example:
    When fieldwork was delayed due to COVID, I transitioned to Zoom interviews while preserving data quality.”

  10. Would you choose a different methodology if you were to conduct the study again?
    Reflect critically.
    Example:
    If I had more resources, I would have conducted a longitudinal study to observe changes over time.”

SECTION 3: Data Analysis & Findings

  1. What are the main findings of your research?
    Clearly summarize your core results.
    Example:
    I found that leadership style significantly influences job satisfaction, especially under remote working conditions.”

  2. How did you analyze your data?
    Name the analysis technique and justify it.
    Example:
    I used thematic analysis for interview data and regression analysis for survey data to test relationships.”

  3. Were there any unexpected results?
    Be honest and explain potential reasons.
    Example:
    Contrary to expectations, training had no significant effect on productivity, which may be due to inconsistent implementation.”

  4. How do your findings compare with existing studies?
    Discuss similarities and differences.
    Example:
    My results align with Smith’s 2020 study, but differ from Lee (2018), likely due to different regional contexts.”

  5. What statistical tools did you use, and why?
    Mention tools like SPSS, STATA, or coding software.
    Example:
    I used SPSS for correlation and regression tests, as it suited my survey-based design.”

  6. How do your results support or refute your hypotheses?
    Go hypothesis-by-hypothesis.
    Example:
    Two of the three hypotheses were supported. The third was not significant, suggesting a moderating variable may be at play.”

  7. What is the significance of your findings?
    Highlight how your results matter.
    Example:
    These findings suggest that policy changes should consider employee feedback mechanisms to improve satisfaction.”

  8. How generalizable are your results?
    Be realistic about your context and sample.
    Example:
    Findings are most relevant to small nonprofits in urban areas but may offer lessons for similar settings.”

  9. Did you encounter any anomalies in your data?
    Explain unusual results or outliers.
    Example:
    One respondent reported extreme values inconsistent with trends. I double-checked for errors but found none; this highlights diversity in user experience.”

  10. How did you interpret the results in the context of your research questions?
    Tie findings to your original purpose.
    Example:
    All data were interpreted with the research questions in mind, helping to confirm, refine, or refute initial assumptions.”

SECTION 4: Theoretical Framework & Literature

  1. What theoretical framework underpins your study?
    Name it, explain it, and justify its use.
    Example:
    I used the Technology Acceptance Model because it provides a strong basis for predicting user behavior in IT adoption.”

  2. How does your research build upon existing literature?
    Show how you’re extending or deepening the field.
    Example:
    I tested the model in a new demographic group, contributing fresh data to an established theory.”

  3. Were there any conflicting theories you had to reconcile?
    Mention any challenges and how you resolved them.
    Example:
    There were contradictions between rational choice theory and behavioral models, so I incorporated elements of both.”

  4. How did you select the literature for your review?
    Talk about inclusion criteria and databases.
    Example:
    I focused on peer-reviewed articles from 2013–2023 found using Scopus and Google Scholar with strict keyword filters.”

  5. What are the key debates in your research area?
    Identify a few, and where your study stands.
    Example:
    There’s ongoing debate on whether external or internal motivation is more effective; my findings support the internal viewpoint.”

  6. How does your study contribute to theoretical advancements?
    Mention any models developed or extended.
    Example:
    I added a new variable, organizational empathy to an existing model, enhancing its predictive power.”

  7. Did you identify any gaps in the literature during your review?
    Point out what others missed.
    Example:
    Most studies ignored minority group perspectives, which my research specifically included.”

  8. How does your work challenge or support existing theories?
    Be clear on where you align or diverge.
    Example:
    My findings partially challenge Maslow’s hierarchy, showing self-actualization may precede safety for some populations.”

  9. What are the seminal works that influenced your research?
    Reference key authors.
    Example:
    Bandura’s work on self-efficacy and Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior formed the foundation for my conceptual model.”

  10. How did you ensure a comprehensive literature review?
    Describe your approach and tools.
    Example:
    I followed PRISMA guidelines and used EndNote to manage and screen over 120 articles.”

SECTION 5: Practical Implications & Future Research

  1. What are the real-world applications of your findings?
    Describe how stakeholders can use your results.
    Example:
    These findings can inform government health campaigns by identifying the most trusted sources for message delivery.”

  2. How can practitioners benefit from your research?
    Translate theory into action.
    Example:
    Managers can implement my recommended communication strategies to reduce turnover.”

  3. What recommendations do you have for future studies?
    Suggest improvements or next steps.
    Example:
    Future studies could use larger samples across different regions for comparative analysis.”

  4. Are there any areas you would explore further if given the opportunity?
    Be specific and show passion.
    Example:
    I’d like to investigate the long-term effects of leadership mentoring programs on organizational culture.”

  5. How do you plan to disseminate your research findings?
    Mention journals, conferences, or outreach.
    Example:
    I intend to submit to the Journal of Public Policy and present at the International Conference on Social Sciences.”

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