6 Most Common Mistakes When Defending a Dissertation
Defense of the dissertation — is an important stage in the life of every PhD student, the culmination of many years of hard work, research, and dedication. However, this process can be a source of stress and anxiety if not properly prepared. PhD students often face a number of mistakes that can hinder the successful defense of their scientific achievements. In this article, we will look at 6 of the most common mistakes that occur during the defense of the dissertation, and give useful tips on how to avoid them. Today, you will learn how, with our help, you can prepare for the defense as effectively and confidently as possible and present the results of your work.
1. Inconsistency with the supervisor
Inconsistency with the supervisor can become a serious obstacle to a successful dissertation defense. This can happen for various reasons:
Why this happens:
- Lack of regular communication: Graduate students often underestimate the importance of regular meetings and communication with their supervisor. Some often ignore important messages from their supervisor.
- Misunderstanding regarding the postgraduate dissertation: Lack of clarity in key aspects of the study may lead to different expectations.
- Incorrect attitude towards the scientific supervisor: The wrong attitude towards your supervisor can seriously harm your successful defense of your dissertation. It is important to understand that your supervisor is not only your mentor, but also a key figure in your academic process.
Recommendations on how to avoid this error:
- Regular meetings and communication: Agree on a schedule of regular meetings with your supervisor to discuss progress and receive feedback.
- Documenting discussions: Write down the main points of meetings to avoid misunderstandings in the future.
- Clarity in communication: Explain your ideas and changes to the research so that your manager is always aware of the latest information.
- Questions and Feedback: Don't be afraid to ask questions and clarify if something is unclear.
- By following these recommendations, you will be able to establish effective communication with your supervisor, which will significantly facilitate the process of preparing for your dissertation defense.
- Show gratitude: Express gratitude for support and help, this will create a friendly atmosphere and strengthen relationships.
- Show respect: Appreciate your manager's experience and knowledge. Your loyalty and respect will help create a positive atmosphere for cooperation.
2. Incorrect execution of work
Design is important not only for aesthetics, but also for compliance with the requirements of scientific institutions. Often, graduate students face difficulties in designing sources according to established standards.
Why this happens:
- Unknown standards: Many postgraduate students do not know or do not understand the specific requirements for the design of the work, in particular the DSTU standards.
- Lack of attention to detail: Graduate students may be too focused on the content of their research and underestimate the importance of presentation.
- No examples: Without access to well-written papers, graduate students may not know what to look for.
Recommendations on how to avoid this error:
- Check out the standards: Start by reviewing your institution's dissertation formatting requirements. This includes formatting references, tables, figures, etc.
- Compare your work with finished samples: Find already defended dissertations in your field and study their formatting carefully. This will help you understand which details are important.
- Attract professionals: If you are not confident in your design skills, consider contacting professional editors or specialists in scientific paper design. This will save you time and nerves.
- Review from colleagues: Ask colleagues or friends to review your work for formatting. An outside perspective can reveal errors that you might not have noticed.
By following these recommendations, you will be able to avoid misunderstandings and problems with the design, which will have a positive impact on the perception of your work during the defense.
3. Insufficient uniqueness of the work
Problems with plagiarism not only undermine scientific integrity, but can also lead to refusal of protection.
Why this happens:
- Ignorance of citation rules: Graduate students may not know how to properly cite sources and format borrowings.
- Misuse of information: Some graduate students may accidentally include fragments of text from sources without proper formatting.
- No verification: Many people believe that the uniqueness of the work is not a problem until the verification results appear.
Recommendations on how to avoid this error:
- Regular plagiarism check: Before defending, be sure to check your dissertation for plagiarism using the service that you plan to use during the defense. This will allow you to identify potential problems in advance.
- Correct citation: Familiarize yourself with the rules for citing and formatting sources to avoid unintentional plagiarism.
- Use paraphrase: When you use ideas or data from other sources, try to retell them in your own words, using proper formatting.
Checking the work in advance By checking for plagiarism and following citation requirements, you can avoid serious problems and maintain your reputation as a scientist.
4. Problems with publishing articles
Problems with publishing scientific articles are one of the most significant mistakes that can prevent a successful defense of a dissertation. Scientific publications are an important indicator of your competence and contribution to the chosen field of research.
Why this happens:
- Mismatched Topic: Often, graduate students publish papers that are not entirely relevant to the topic of their dissertation or have a weak connection to the main results of their research.
- No indexing: Publications may not be indexed in Scopus or Web of Science. Such publication is not taken into account.
- Insufficient number of publications: Graduate students may not have the required number of authored articles, according to current legislation.
Recommendations on how to avoid this error:
- Focus on relevance: Publish articles that are directly related to your dissertation. This will help to support your arguments and confirm your expertise in the topic. For example, it is better to publish KKSON articles independently than in co-authorship. But articles in the Scopus or Web of Science database can be co-authored.
- Indexing check: Before publishing, be sure to find out whether the article is indexed in scientific databases (for example, Scopus, Web of Science).
- Create a publication plan: Develop a publication strategy to ensure that you have enough original articles by the time you defend your thesis. Include articles that cover different aspects of your research.
- Cooperation with the scientific supervisor: Discuss potential topics for publication with your supervisor and get his or her recommendations on choosing journals.
Following these recommendations, you can significantly increase your chances of successfully defending your dissertation by providing the necessary support with your publications.
5. Incorrectly written dissertation abstract
Abstract — is a brief summary of the main results of the dissertation research, which is important not only for the scientific community, but also for the members of the certification committee. An incorrectly composed abstract can spoil the impression of your work even before the defense begins.
Why this happens:
- Incorrect highlighting of main ideas: Graduate students may not be able to clearly articulate the key findings and contributions of their research.
- Lack of attention to structure: An abstract can be written without following a certain structure, which makes it difficult to understand.
- Complex language and terms: Using complex scientific language without sufficient explanation can make your abstract difficult to understand.
Recommendations on how to avoid this error:
- Clear structure: Follow the generally accepted structure of the abstract, including an introduction, the purpose of the study, the main results, conclusions and recommendations.
- To simplify the presentation: Write simply and clearly, using clear language. Avoid overuse of terms without explanation.
- Focus on key results: Highlight the most significant results of your work that demonstrate its uniqueness and scientific value.
- View and edit: It is necessary to review and edit the abstract several times, possibly with the help of a supervisor or colleagues.
- Checking for compliance with requirements: Check your institution's requirements for abstract formatting and make sure your work complies with them.
- Involve specialists: If you are experiencing difficulties in writing an abstract, contact specialists who will help you create a high-quality document in accordance with all requirements.
Correct abstract can significantly increase the chances of successfully defending your dissertation, since this is the first thing the committee members will see.
6. UDC not specified
Universal Decimal Classifier (UDC) is an important element of scientific works, including dissertations. It serves to identify the research topic and simplifies the search for materials in libraries and scientific databases. The absence of UDC can negatively affect the perception of your work.
Why this happens:
- Lack of awareness of the importance of: Graduate students may not realize that UDC is not just a formality, but also an important aspect of the structure of a research paper.
- Lack of knowledge of the registration process: Many people do not know how to correctly determine and specify the UDC code for their topic.
- Rush in preparation: In the last minutes before the defense, graduate students may forget to add the UDC, focusing on more obvious aspects of the work.
Recommendations on how to avoid this error:
- Check out the classification: Study the UDC rules and find the appropriate code for your topic. This can be done using specialized reference books or online resources.
- Consultation with the scientific supervisor: Discuss with your supervisor the possible UDC code for your dissertation. He or she can help you determine it correctly.
- Checking the design: Before submitting your dissertation, double-check all requirements to ensure that the UDC is included on the title page or other required documents.
- Plan ahead: Add UDC while writing your work, and not in the last days before the defense, to avoid stress and forgetfulness.
UDC indication is an integral part of the preparation of the dissertation, and its absence can lead to unnecessary complications. Therefore, it is important to pay due attention to this aspect at all stages of writing.
Dissertation Defense - This is a complex and responsible process that requires careful preparation and attention to detail. As we have already mentioned, there are many aspects that can affect the success of this stage. Based on our experience, we have described the six most significant mistakes that can lead to a refusal to defend. According to statistics, about 30-40% postgraduate students do not pass the defense on the first try precisely because of these problems.
To reduce these risks, it is important not only to be aware of possible mistakes, but also to actively work to avoid them. If you feel that you cannot cope with certain aspects of preparation on your own, do not hesitate to seek professional services. The specialists of the Dissertation Academy can provide valuable assistance in writing, editing and formatting your scientific materials, which will significantly increase your chances of a successful defense.
Success in defending your dissertation depends on your readiness, attention to detail and ability to take into account all the nuances. Choose the right approach and you will be able to achieve the desired result!
