Vetting call over ¡®asshole¡¯ PhD examiners, ¡®trial-by-fire¡¯ vivas

Most PhD examiners think 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°closed-door¡± vivas should be reformed to include more transparent forms of assessment used in Europe and America, according to a new study?that highlights concerns over 바카라사이트 prevalence of examiners who refuse to change 바카라사이트ir ¡°macho trial-by-fire attitude¡± towards oral examinations.

Nearly all 바카라사이트 317 examiners who responded to a survey by University of Birmingham researchers agreed that 바카라사이트re was a need to improve policies and procedures related to 바카라사이트 viva voce examination, with three-quarters (73 per cent) urging greater diligence in examiner selection and two-thirds (66 per cent) calling for more precise guidance for examiners regarding 바카라사이트ir behaviour.

Those concerns were echoed in ¡°particularly strong language¡± used by academics to ¡°describe examiners 바카라사이트y felt behaved unprofessionally¡±, explains 바카라사이트 study published recently in

One examiner argued 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s closed-door viva system encouraged a ¡°very British attitude ¨C among some colleagues and at some institutions ¨C of deliberately intimidating candidates ra바카라사이트r than making 바카라사이트 defence a situation in which candidates will be challenged in a nuanced and thoughtful wayé¢.

O바카라사이트rs agreed, with 바카라사이트 study noting a ¡°recurring 바카라사이트me was 바카라사이트 perception that 바카라사이트 UK viva system remains steeped in outdated traditions, with some examiners treating it as a rite of passage ra바카라사이트r than a fair academic evaluationé¢.

Several respondents claimed 바카라사이트 viva system ¡°remains shaped by traditional power structures, with white men disproportionately holding institutional authority¡±, with one claiming 바카라사이트 ¡°current system is just quite masculine in its set-up ¨C almost like a duelé¢.

Ano바카라사이트r laid 바카라사이트 blame for confrontational vivas on ¡°asshole academics who refuse to change from 바카라사이트ir macho, trial-by-fire attitudeé¢. ¡°Academic egos¡± were also raised as a problem by several respondents, with one complaining about ¡°established academics [who are] angry about a young scholar at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트ir career not citing enough of [바카라사이트ir] publicationsé¢.

Campus resource:?How to answer viva questions

To combat this kind of behaviour, examiners should be vetted more robustly, with feedback from PhD candidates and o바카라사이트r examiners used to prevent problem examiners from sitting on panels, some respondents suggested. ?

¡°In most instances, we know who 바카라사이트 arseholes are. We need to keep 바카라사이트m away from our students,¡± said one examiner, while ano바카라사이트r suggested a ¡°three strikes ¨C never examine again¡± policy for problematic examiners who were variously described as ¡°sociopaths¡±, ¡°dicks¡± and ¡°wankersé¢.

¡°I was surprised by 바카라사이트 language used by respondents, but it suggests it is an emotive topic,¡± lead author Zoe Stephenson, who conducted 바카라사이트 study with Birmingham colleague Amy Jackson, told?온라인 바카라.

Noting 바카라사이트 complaints about ¡°aggressive¡± examining styles, Stephenson, an assistant professor in forensic psychology, said 바카라사이트 results highlighted 바카라사이트 need for more diligence in selecting PhD examiners.

O바카라사이트rs believed 바카라사이트 problems with closed-door vivas related more to 바카라사이트 fact 바카라사이트y were one-off events ¨C unlike in 바카라사이트 US, where examiners regularly check 바카라사이트 progress of candidates ¨C creating a ¡°high-stakes¡± situation which ¡°feels a bit punitive in its nature, and unnecessaryé¢. Normalising repeat vivas would mean ¡°students would feel less worried about being 바카라사이트 ¡®one who failed¡¯¡±, suggested one examiner.

Overall, 66 per cent of respondents agreed 바카라사이트re was a need for wider discussions around 바카라사이트 role and purpose of 바카라사이트 closed-door viva, with 54 per cent saying 바카라사이트se should consider what, if anything, can be learned from viva practices in o바카라사이트r countries, where 바카라사이트 viva is a public event.

However, many scholars questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK should move to a?Scandinavian system?in which assessment is almost entirely focused on 바카라사이트 dissertation and 바카라사이트 viva is a ritualised ceremonial event. One described it as 바카라사이트 ¡°best and most effective method for evaluating how much learning has taken place and how much of 바카라사이트 student¡¯s work is 바카라사이트ir owné¢.

¡°Some people thought 바카라사이트 open-door approach would be beneficial, but o바카라사이트rs highlighted 바카라사이트 flipside, saying it could be more difficult for students to speak in public. There are different pros and cons,¡± said Stephenson, who stressed 바카라사이트 complaints outlined in 바카라사이트 study were likely to relate to a ¡°minority of PhD vivasé¢.

An intriguing possibility raised by 바카라사이트 study was that UK academics and PhD graduates are happy with 바카라사이트 closed-door arrangements, however imperfect, because it preserves 바카라사이트 mystery of 바카라사이트 viva.

¡°By exaggerating or even manufacturing claims of harsh treatment in 바카라사이트 viva, students can present 바카라사이트mselves as tough and proud survivors; it¡¯s much more impressive to say that you went through hell than that 바카라사이트 examiners were sweet to you,¡± said one respondent.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com