Writing up your midwifery research requires a clear, standardized structure that guides the reader logically from your initial question to your final conclusions. Traditionally, a dissertation is divided into five main chapters: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, and Discussion/Conclusion.
Maintain an academic yet accessible writing style. Use the past tense when describing your methodology and results, as these events have already occurred. Avoid overusing long, convoluted sentences; clarity is paramount for examiners wading through dozens of pages.
Your oral defense presentation is a concise summary, not a reading of your entire 100-page dissertation. Aim for a lean slide deck—roughly 10 to 15 slides—that you can comfortably present within a strict 15-to-20-minute window.
Clarity beats decoration. Avoid dense paragraphs of text; instead, use bullet points, clear headings, and clean charts or graphs to communicate data at a glance. Stick to a readable font size, and ensure high contrast between your text and background.
Practice timing yourself multiple times. Running out of time before reaching your results leaves examiners with a poor impression of your synthesis skills.
The oral defense, or viva voce, is your opportunity to prove that you are the absolute master of your research. Dress professionally, arrive early, and bring printed copies of your dissertation along with your presentation notes.
The session typically begins with a brief introduction by the panel chair, followed by your uninterrupted presentation. Once you finish, the internal and external examiners take turns asking questions, challenging your assumptions, and probing your methodology.
Listen carefully to each question without interrupting. Take brief notes as they speak so you do not miss any part of a multi-part question. Address the panel respectfully, maintaining a calm, confident, and professional demeanor, even if a question feels pointed or critical. Remember that examiners are testing your scientific maturity and your ability to defend your professional choices under scrutiny.
Examiners generally focus on predictable areas of your research. Anticipating their lines of inquiry helps you prepare calm, evidence-based responses. Common areas of scrutiny include:
If you genuinely do not know the answer to a question, do not guess or fabricate data. Acknowledge the gap politely, noting that it presents a valuable area for future research.
Receiving heavy critique can feel personal, but examiners' comments are meant to elevate the scholarly standard of your work. After the defense, the panel will deliberate and categorize the outcome: pass without changes, minor revisions, major revisions, or re-examination.
Keep a meticulous record of every correction requested by both internal and external examiners. Create a tracking table listing the examiner's comment, the specific page number, and how and where you addressed it in the revised manuscript.
Work closely with your primary supervisor to implement these changes accurately before submitting the final bound copies. Meeting these final administrative requirements promptly ensures a smooth path toward graduation and licensure endorsement.