In a Ph.D. viva, the questions typically revolve around evaluating your understanding of the research topic, methodology, findings, and contribution to the field. Here’s a categorized list of common and important questions you may be asked during a Commerce Ph.D. viva
Chapter wise expected Questions
1. General / Introductory Questions
Can you briefly introduce your research topic?
What motivated you to choose this particular topic?
* How did your interest in this area develop?
* What are the main objectives of your research?
* What is the significance of your study?
2. Literature Review
* How did you conduct your literature review?
* What are the key theories/models that underpin your research?
* Who are the major contributors in your research area?
* What gaps in the literature did your study aim to fill?
* How is your work different from existing studies?
3. Research Methodology
* Why did you choose this particular research methodology?
* What is the research design of your study?
* How did you select your sample/respondents?
* What tools/instruments did you use for data collection?
* How did you ensure reliability and validity?
4. Data Analysis
* What statistical tools/software did you use?
* Why did you choose those specific tools or tests?
* What challenges did you face during data analysis?
* Can you justify your choice of variables?
* How did you interpret the results?
5. Findings and Discussion
* What are the major findings of your research?
* How do your findings compare with previous studies?
* Were there any unexpected results?
* What implications do your findings have for theory and practice?
* How do your findings contribute to the field of commerce?
6. Conclusion and Recommendations
* What are the main conclusions of your study?
* What practical recommendations can be drawn from your research?
* How can businesses/policymakers use your findings?
* What are the limitations of your study?
* What future research directions do you suggest?
7. Contribution and Originality
* What is original about your research?
* How does your research contribute to the field of commerce?
* Can your research be generalized?
* Have you published any part of your research? If yes, where?
8. Personal Reflection
* If you were to start over, what would you do differently?
* What did you learn during your Ph.D. journey?
* How has your thinking evolved since you started?
* What are your future research/career plans?
9. Domain-Specific Questions
Depending on your specialization (e.g., Finance, Marketing, Accounting, International Business), you might be asked:
* How does your research align with current trends in financial markets?
* What is the managerial relevance of your marketing study?
* How does your accounting research address regulatory concerns?
* How does your study contribute to international trade policy debates?
With Regards.,
Dr Anthony Rahul Golden S
M.Com., M.Phil., NET., Ph.D., MBA.,SET., NET., M.A., M.Sc. (Psy)., M.A., PGDBA.,
Asst. Professor of Commerce., Loyola College (Autonomous), Chennai - 34
Mobile No- 91+9176313545
https://yesrahul.blogspot.com/
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8071-4801
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anthony-Golden-S
