Are You Ready for These Defense Questions?
In this monologue, Steve Tippins, Ph.D., offers practical advice for graduate students preparing for their thesis or dissertation defense. He outlines the typical questions committees ask about data collection, coding, and theme development, emphasizing the importance of using a clear analytical framework—specifically Braun and Clarke’s six‑step thematic analysis—to produce defensible answers. Tippins warns that insufficient data (e.g., collecting far fewer cases than originally planned) requires a solid justification, as committees expect prolonged data‑gathering efforts before accepting reduced sample sizes. He stresses that the defense should stay within the scope and methodology approved in the original proposal; deviating to explore new areas invites additional scrutiny and demands explanations for why the original plan was not updated. Overall, the advice centers on anticipating committee concerns, adhering to the approved research plan, and preparing concise, method‑based responses.
