The following questions are examples of what a dissertation committee may ask at a dissertation defense:
- Based on your findings, what will your next research project be?
- How would you build on this research?
- How could you improve your research skills?
- How can your research be used in practice?
- Looking back, what might you have done differently?
- What are the main weaknesses with what you did and why are they there?
- What have been the significant contributions of your research?
- Summarize your key findings.
- Comment on and justify your research methodology. Why have you done it this way? What are the alternatives to your approach?
- How has your thinking changed as a result of this research project?
- How have you evaluated your work?
- How do your contributions generalize?
- What surprises did you find in your study?
- What was the most challenging aspect of your research?
- Will your research change current thinking in the field? If so, how?
- How will you communicate your work to other scholars in your field?
- What advice would you give a learner who is starting the dissertation process and considering using the methodology you used?
- What are the broader implications of your research?
- What specific aspects of your findings can be taken to practice?
- Is there an alternative interpretation of your findings?
Remember, the role of the dissertation committee is to present a platform for you to share your research, not to make you defensive (even though you will be defending). This is your opportunity to shine as a scholar and be proud of your achievement as a doctoral learner. You will likely only defend a dissertation once – dress to impress, be prepared and present with confidence!
Grand Canyon University integrates the dissertation process throughout the doctoral program to help learners succeed in their doctoral journey. Visit our website to learn more about the College of Doctoral Studies.
More about Hazel:
Dr. Hazel Isaac-Smith is a senior research specialist for the Office of Dissertations, College of Doctoral Studies at Grand Canyon University. She has 15+ years of teaching and administrative experience in higher education. Dr. Isaac-Smith has a BSc in communicative disorders from Andrews University; BEd from the University of Toronto; MEd in special education from York University in Canada and PhD in emotional/behavioral disorders from Arizona State University.
Dr. Isaac-Smith has a passion for working with adult learners in higher education and brings substantial teaching experience, having taught students ranging from preschoolers to doctoral students. Her research interests lie in the field of linguistics, the pragmatics of language, and psycholinguistics. At Grand Canyon University, Dr. Isaac-Smith’s primary role has been to guide doctoral learners and their dissertation committee members to the successful completion of their dissertation journey.
