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25 Possible Questions For Research Defense
25 Possible Questions For Research Defense
The question is simple right? Many professors will tell you that most students get
choked on a question like this. Anyways the question is simple, but a bit technical. To
answer this question, you need to know every single detail of your research project
from chapters one to the end. The question needs an answer in form of a summary
of entire study, therefore, to ace this particular question you need to know every
single detail in your abstract. If you wrote a good abstract, this question will be cross
over for you.
To answer this question, you may decide to elaborate on the problem investigated in
the research study. Your zeal to solve this problem becomes your motivation. Do not
state financial reasons or the need to graduate as a motivation as you may easily go
off point.
Question 11: Based on your findings, what areas will you suggest for future
researchers?
Questions like this are just there to test your reasoning and authority in your research
area. Based on your findings in a manageable scope, you should be able to suggest
future research areas in line with your study. For example, if I researched on the
challenges of personal income tax in Nigeria, a good area for further study will be on
other forms of taxation such as VAT, Company Tax, etc.
Question 12: How can your research study be put into practice?
Easy for the computer scientists and engineering students, but a bit tough for
management and social sciences since most management/social sciences projects
are more in abstract in nature. However, you should try your best to be realistic here.
Relate your study to current trends in your environment, office, economy,
government, schools, church, etc. Use of relevant examples and illustrations will
score you god point here.
Question 13: How would you summarize your study to a practitioner in a few
sentence?
Your ability to convey technical information from the study will score you good points
here.
Question 14: What would you change if you were to conduct the study again?
Hmmm. Be careful! Do not be too jovial! There is a loophole here! Just like your
limitations, this question can be asked to identify your weak points.
Question 19: What source of data was employed for this study?
At this point you have to state the sources you got data form. In general, you have to
state whether data was gotten from primary or secondary source or both. You can go
further to convince the committee members by discoursing the literature reviewed for
the study- both theoretical and empirical.
Question 20: What theories or theoretical framework is your study based on?
This is very technical question but interesting. Before you step into the defense
room, you should know at least two relevant theories that relate to your study. For
example, the “impact of motivation on employee productivity” will be based on
Maslow’s Theory and other theories of motivation. If you cannot find relevant theories
to back up your study, consult your research adviser.
Question 21: How would you relate your findings to existing theories on the
study?
To ace this question, one will have to read extensively. You should know existing
theories on the subject matter as well as empirical studies too. Your ability to link
your findings to previous studies (whether they agree or not) will go a long way in
validating your study. You will score good points here, TRUST ME!
Thank you panel members for your time and questions. Thank you so much
because we learned so much from you ad thank you for correcting errors in our
research work. Thank you also to our adviser, Ms. Alona Taloza and her sister
Ms. Allison Taloza for their guide and support for us throughout this research
study
BONUS TIPS:
When confronted with a difficult question, adopt a strategy to make rephase or
repeat the question. This will give you more time to think.
If your research project is empirical in nature, or you used any statistical tool to
test hypothesis, try to know how you arrived at such conclusion. Also know how
your data was analyzed and the various tools used for the analysis.
Before your defense day. Practice with your friends or group mates. Make them
to drill you with likely questions/
Talk calmly with confidence. Do not talk too fast as this may pave way for
tension and stage fright.
Read your project thoroughly. Know basic definitions and terms in the study.