Tips for Passing Comprehensive Exam
or Final Defense

For Graduate Students in the HED Program
Virginia Tech

Your advisor will be glad to meet with you at anytime to discuss your thesis, independent study, or dissertation. Regardless of the scope of your paper, your final exam will center around your research project.

Remember that as you get ready to schedule any of these exams (i.e., prospectus, comprehensive, or defense), there are forms that must be completed. Each exam must be officially scheduled and the results of each exam must be recorded. Securing a room for these exams and making sure the forms are picked up and completed are student responsibilities. See your advisor or Vicki about the forms.

Even though committees will be made of different faculty and invariably have its own personality, each committee will observe the same basic traditions and customs. Your committee will also likely ask several questions that have become almost standard in these exams. Here are some of the more frequently ask questions. Note the relationship to the various sections of your paper. You should know the answer to each before you schedule your exam.

  1. What is the nature of your study?

  2. Why was this topic of interest to you?

  3. What did you hope to learn from your study?

  4. How did you go about conducting your study?

  5. What are your independent and dependent variables?

  6. What kind of data did you collect?

  7. How do you define reliability, validity, or trustworthiness?

  8. How did you ensure the reliability, validity, or trustworthiness of your study?

  9. What technique(s) did you use to analyze the data? Why was it appropriate?

  10. What were your results?

  11. How do your findings relate to the literature in the field?

  12. What do your results mean for the profession?

  13. If you were doing this study again, what would you do differently?

If you can't answer these questions for yourself, then you need to think a little harder about your project. Remember, these are only a few of the more frequently asked questions but they should be considered as a basic framework for the exam. Most likely, your committee also will ask more specific questions that pertain to your topic.

Remember, the faculty want you to be successful. We'll do our part. You must do yours. If you have questions, talk with your advisor.

Posted: June 20, 2003
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