Purpose
In the UK and countries following similar systems of doctoral assessment, there is little research-based evidence about what goes on in vivas. However, “doctoral assessment ‘horror stories’”, abound. The purpose of this paper is to report a study focussing on difficult doctoral examining experiences and argue that sharing such stories can provide a useful basis for examiner and supervisor education.
Design/methodology/approach
The study took a narrative auto/biographical approach.
Findings
The stories participants told show that doctoral examining is relational, emotional and ethical work and that viva outcomes are strongly influenced by subjectivities. There was felt to be a need to share stories of difficulties in order to bring them into the open with a view to prompting transformational change.
Research limitations/implications
Participants were self-selecting and all worked at the same institution.
Originality/value
There are few accounts of examiners’ experiences of the viva.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)