POSSIBLE QUESTIONS TO BE
ENCOUNTERED IN RESEARCH
DEFENSE
QUESTION 1: IN A FEW SENTENCES, CAN
YOU TELL US WHAT YOUR STUDY IS ALL
ABOUT?
This appears to be the easiest question, right? However,
a lot of lecturers have stated that this is the question
many students get stuck on. Nevertheless, it is a simple
question, but a bit complex. The answer to the question is
mastering the contents of each chapter. It is a summary
of the study; thus, you should master the abstract.
Question 2: What is your motivation
for this study?
This is one of the trickiest questions
the panellists will ask you. It will go a long
way to clear any doubt about the relevance of
your research. This question can come in
another way as.
What is the Research Problem?
The answer is the elaboration of the problem of
the research. Your desire to answer this problem
becomes a motivation for the study. Kindly avoid
stating the need to graduate or financial reasons as
the motivation for the study.
QUESTION 3: HOW WILL THIS
STUDY CONTRIBUTE TO THE BODY
OF KNOWLEDGE?
During your defence, you might be asked how your final year
project will contribute to the existing body of knowledge; at this
stage, you will highlight the method employed for the research or
theoretical framework or any unique point of the research to
defend your standpoint.
QUESTION 4: WHAT IS THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY?
Aside from stating the contribution your final year project is
making to knowledge, you will also have to state why the
project is important to society at large. You are presenting a
project, right? But have you ever stopped to ask yourself
why it is relevant to society? Think about that and make
people realize that what you are proposing is a real
differentiator.
This is a very important moment, as it is a chance to show
why your final year project should be accepted and the
impacts it can bring. Believe me: you can pass if you can be
very convincing on this issue.
QUESTION 5: DID YOU BRIDGE
ANY GAP FROM YOUR STUDY?
before you embark on any research work, you must have identified a
gap you want to fill. Your ability to cover existing knowledge gaps
guarantees that you will ace your defence. However, you must be
convincing enough and provide valid evidence to back up your point
that you fill a lacuna when facing the defence panel.
QUESTION 6: WHAT LIMITATIONS
DID YOU ENCOUNTER?
Indeed, this question is quite easy; however, it is complicated.
When this question is posed, it is not to sympathize with you but
rather for you to highlight the weaknesses of your project. Hence,
to ace this question, you must be intentional to avoid selling
yourself short. Avoid highlighting limitations in your methodology
and analysis, as this could be used to state that your research is
not well conducted. Rather highlight general limitations such as
the time consumption between carrying out research and
attending lectures, financial implications of the research.
QUESTION 8: WHAT METHODS OR
SAMPLING TECHNIQUE DID YOU
EMPLOY?
In most projects, the answer to this question is the mastery of the
third chapter of the project, which is always the methodology.
You must be ready to defend the type of sample you choose.
QUESTION 9: WHY CHOOSE THIS
METHOD?
Following from the above, you must convince the
panel why this particular method is the best for your
study. At this stage, you should quote similar works
that employed the same methodology.
QUESTION 12: HOW CAN YOUR RESEARCH
STUDY BE PUT INTO PRACTICE?
This question is to understand the practicability of your
research work. This is quite easy for students in the sciences;
however, it is quite challenging for students in the humanities,
social sciences, and sometimes the management sciences due
to the abstract nature of the researched topics. Nevertheless,
try to juxtapose the project with the present environment for
the defence panel to be able to relate to your work.
QUESTION 13: HOW WOULD YOU SUMMARIZE
YOUR STUDY TO A PRACTITIONER IN A FEW
SENTENCES?
This question is aimed at displaying your ability to pass on
technical information. Your confidence and lucidity help you to
ace this question.
QUESTION 14: WHAT WOULD YOU
CHANGE IF YOU WERE TO
CONDUCT THE STUDY AGAIN?
This is a very tricky question. Like the study’s limitation, it is
also asked to highlight the weak points of the research work.
So be careful of what you say.
QUESTION 15: WHAT IS YOUR
MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT?.
To put it simply, what data collection method did you
use for your study? To answer this question, you state
whether you used secondary sources or
questionnaires
QUESTION 16: WHAT ARE YOUR
RESEARCH VARIABLES?
At this point, you must be fully prepared to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt to the defence panel that you understand
what your research is all about. You should identify and
explain the independent and dependent variables/themes in
your project, thesis or dissertation to ace your project
defence.
QUESTION 17: WHAT ARE YOUR
RESEARCH QUESTIONS?
This is a pretty straightforward question. When you master the
statement of the problem, it won’t be difficult to answer the
questions which emanated and formed the basis of your research
objectives.
QUESTION 18: WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO
WITH YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT AFTER THIS
RESEARCH? AND AFTER GRADUATION?
At this point, the panellists just want to know your plan after the
program. So, feel free to speak your mind. If you have plans to
publish your project, this is the best time to say it, and maybe a
professor on the panel will be interested in helping you.
QUESTION 19: WHAT SOURCE OF
DATA WAS EMPLOYED FOR THE
STUDY?
When asked this question, you state clearly whether you used
primary sources (interviews, eye-witness accounts), secondary
sources (books, journals, newspaper), or you employed both for your
research work. It is advisable to be honest because those who asked
you the question are experts in this field. To ace this question, you
should be able to summarise your literature review.
QUESTION 20: WHAT THEORIES
OR THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK IS
YOUR STUDY BASED ON?
Before going for your defence, ensure you understand at least two
theoretical frameworks that can be used to back up your research.
As straightforward as this question appears to be, it has proven to
be one of students’ biggest undoing’s during project defence.
Hence, prior to the defence, you can ask your supervisor for help.
QUESTION 23: WHAT IS THE
SCOPE OF THE STUDY?
When asked this question, know you have been provided an
opportunity to delimit your project, thesis or dissertation. This is
inarguably the cheapest question during project defence.
QUESTION 24: WHAT
QUESTION(S) DO YOU HAVE FOR
THE COMMITTEE?
This question may seem unlikely when considering Nigeria’s
educational environment; nevertheless, when asked such a
question, it is a chance to interact with members of the panel;
hence, ask some constructive questions that you might have
prepared before the defence or during the defence. Be cautious
of the way you ask the question, don’t make jokes during the
period; the aim is not to make the panellists look stupid.
QUESTION 25: DO YOU HAVE
ANY CLOSING COMMENTS?
At this point, all you need to do is to appreciate the members of
the panel for their time, and questions asked so far. Highlight
the lessons you have learned throughout the defence period and
how you plan to effect corrections that have been highlighted
during your defence. Most times, this attitude goes a great
length in reassuring the supervisors and examiners that you
understood all that had been discussed.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE TOPIC?
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE
SELECTED STUDENTS?
HOW WILL YOU ASSESS YOUR RESPONDENTS
IF YOU WILL CONDUCT THROUGH ONLINE?
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE TITLE?
HOW MANY IS YOUR
RESPONDENTS?
WHAT’S YOUR STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM?
DO YOU THINK YOUR PROPOSED STUDY IS
TIMELY AND USEFUL?