What questions are asked in a thesis defense? I'm so nervous. 😰

[Alicia]

My thesis defense is in two months and I can't sleep. I have no idea what they're going to ask me. My advisor says "just know your research" but that's not helpful. WHAT questions?

I found a list online of common questions asked in thesis exams . It includes:

• Why are you interested in this topic?
• Where did you find the problem?
• What motivated you?
• What is the purpose of your research?
• Why did you choose this location/population?
• What's the difference between unit of analysis and respondent?
• What's the difference between primary and secondary data?
• Describe your population and sample
• What are your findings?
• What are your conclusions?

Is this accurate? Has anyone been through a defense and can tell me what actually gets asked? I need real experiences, not just generic lists!

 

[Britney]

The list you found is good but also expect questions about your literature review. "Why didn't you cite X author?" or "How does your work build on Y?" If there's a major scholar in your field, make sure you know their work and can explain how yours connects.

Also, they'll ask about generalizability. Even if your study isn't meant to be generalizable, they'll ask. Be ready to explain why it's still valuable.

And practice answering out loud. Not just in your head. Actually say the words. It's different when you have to verbalize.