Supporting students' preparation for the viva: their pre-conceptions and implications for practice

There has been relatively little research on the pre-conceptions of doctoral students about the final examination, the viva voce and hence there is a shortage of evidence to underpin activities designed to prepare them for this experience. The present paper, which is based upon data from a wide range of focus groups of pre-viva students, seeks to illuminate students' pre-conceptions, to site them within a teaching framework, and to consider the...