‘Smile and nod’ or more? Reassessing the role of the silent supervisor in the doctoral viva

The study examines the perspectives of convenors, examiners, supervisors, and candidates to gather their views on the presence of the supervisor in oral examinations (doctoral viva) and to reassess the role of the mainly silent supervisor in the doctoral viva.

Supervisors are central to candidates’ doctoral journey, and their roles have been well documented. However, supervisors’ role in the doctoral viva remains elusive, insignificant, and misunderstood.

The study adopts a qualitative survey method and qualitative interviews to examine the perspectives of 94 participants, including conveners, examiners, supervisors, and candidates. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and an open-ended survey and was later analyzed using a qualitative approach.

The findings have implications for the doctoral viva and policies that seek to make it a collegial and equitable practice.

The findings offer two main explanations that warrant supervisors’ physical presence in oral examinations: psycho-emotional support and procedural/​regulatory purposes. Supervisors’ voices serve psycho-emotional and technical purposes and aid in dialogue and knowledge construction.

Kumar, V., Kaur, A., Sharmini, S. and Noman, M. (2022) ​‘Smile and nod’ or more? 

Reassessing the role of the silent supervisor in the doctoral viva. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 17: 263–277