Preparing a dissertation is a complex and time-consuming process, for which you need to start preparing in advance. This article will tell you how to start preparing for a dissertation defence.
A dissertation is a complex and challenging work, the preparation of which requires a lot of effort and time, because the author must describe the research in detail. Preparing and defending a dissertation research is one of the most important stages in the life of every scientist. The author has quite a lot of time to prepare a dissertation, but why should he or she start preparing as early as possible? What are some tips for preparing for a dissertation defence? Today we will answer these questions.
Scientific publications for defending a dissertation
The main results of a doctoral dissertation must be published in scientific journals included in the List of peer-reviewed scientific periodicals, the rules for the formation of which, the requirements for peer-reviewed publications, and their scoring are approved by the Presidium of the National Attestation Commission under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and posted on the website.
Mandatory requirements for defending a dissertation:
- Availability of a publication in Scopus or Web of Science.
- A publication in a journal with an impact factor of at least 0.2.
It is worth noting that newspaper articles, deposited manuscripts and abstracts are not included in the list of published scientific works. This is because such materials usually do not undergo a peer review process and have limited academic value.
To defend a doctoral dissertation in the form of a scientific report, you must have a single monograph. The monograph must be written by one author, and its volume must be at least 10 printed pages. It is also a mandatory requirement to have at least 12 articles published in periodicals that are indexed in the international scientometric databases Scopus or Web of Science.
The requirements for a doctoral dissertation submitted in the form of a scientific report and the procedure for its defence are determined by the Regulations "On the Specialised Academic Council".
At least 2 articles in scientific journals indexed by Scopus or Web of Science with an impact factor of at least 0.1 are required.
In accordance with the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On the State Language of the Kyrgyz Republic", dissertations may be written in the state or official languages, while for dissertations in the state language, at least 4 articles for a doctoral dissertation and at least 2 articles for a PhD dissertation published in the relevant language are required.
Deadlines for publishing a scientific article in the Scopus and Web of Science databases
Since publications in such scientometric databases as Scopus and Web of Science are required to obtain an academic title or degree, it is worth starting to prepare for the dissertation defence in advance, taking into account the deadlines for publication in these databases.
The queue for scientific journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science is quite long, and the publication period can be a year or more. That is why it is worth preparing your research for publication in advance, and making it look as perfect as possible to speed up the publication process.
Preparing for a presentation to the committee
Contact your supervisor regularly. It is he or she who knows and will tell you about all the peculiarities and rules of the dissertation defence, give you advice and check your defence report.
1. Content of the report.
When preparing the text for your speech, it is important to pay due attention to it. The report should clearly reflect the main points of your dissertation. At the same time, you should not overload the text, as this can make it difficult to read. An excessive number of terms can make the report less understandable and tire the audience. However, an overly simplified presentation will not allow you to convey all the nuances and details of the research, which may give the commission the impression of superficiality. End your presentation by thanking the committee and the audience for their attention.
2. Rehearsals and the duration of the speech.
To defend your dissertation, it is important to carefully prepare the text of your report, as there are clear rules for the presentation. It is necessary to have time to present the main content of the research without overloading it, and at the same time pay special attention to the originality and practical significance of the results obtained.
One of the key stages of preparation is rehearsal. Do not ignore this practice: practice at home, and try to speak in front of your family or friends, setting a timer beforehand. This will help you get a feel for the right pace for your presentation, which should be neither too fast nor too slow. We also recommend that you leave some time for explanations of graphic or demonstrative material, making appropriate notes in the text where you plan to pause for these explanations.
3. Preparing a report for a presentation.
In your dissertation presentation, we recommend using graphic material such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and tables to clearly demonstrate the data obtained during the research. These tools will help to show the results more clearly and justify their feasibility for implementation. It is important that the graphic materials are made qualitatively, because careless design can cause more questions and remarks during the defence.
4. Answers to questions.
Think in advance about the possible questions that may arise during the meeting with the commission. Analyse the comments received from your supervisor, opponents, and other participants during your previous defence. This will help you prepare for possible questions and provide comprehensive answers.
5. Attend similar events.
If possible, attending other dissertation defences can be very useful. This will help you to prepare better for your own defence, as you will be able to familiarise yourself with the process and how the discussions between the speakers and the committee are conducted. Such visits will also help you to understand professional ethics, note different presentation styles and other important nuances.
Why is it important to prepare for your dissertation defence in advance?
- Timely publication of scientific articles in Scopus, Web of Science and peer-reviewed scientific periodicals.
- Strengthening the report by participating in scientific events.
- Timely preparation of the dissertation.
- Deep understanding of the material.
- Sufficient time to finalise the work.
- Practising the presentation.
- Preparation of the necessary documents.
- Analysis of possible questions from the commission and opponents.
- Moral readiness for the presentation.
When writing your dissertation, follow all the recommendations and comments given to you by your supervisor. Start preparing materials for publication in databases for your dissertation defence in advance, as this will save you time and worry about meeting deadlines in the future.
"Scientific Publications" guarantees you publications in such databases as Scopus and Web of Science. Leave a request on the website, and our manager will contact you during the working day to answer your questions and advise you.
