Ph.D. thesis is on Occupational Stress in HRM, the viva questions will focus on stress-related theories, workplace dynamics, measurement techniques, and practical implications for HR policy and employee well-being.
Here’s a list of likely viva questions tailored specifically to your topic.
1. Introduction & Rationale
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What is occupational stress, and how is it defined in your study?
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Why did you choose occupational stress as your research area?
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What made you focus on this issue now—was there a recent trend or event?
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What are the main research questions or objectives of your study?
2. Theoretical Framework
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What stress models or theories have guided your research?
(E.g., Job Demand-Control Model, Person-Environment Fit, Transactional Model of Stress) -
How do you differentiate between stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction?
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How do psychological and physiological components of stress interact in workplace settings?
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Did you refer to any industry-specific stress frameworks (e.g., for healthcare, IT, education)?
3. Literature Review
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What are the main causes of occupational stress in the sectors you studied?
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How has occupational stress been researched previously in HR literature?
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What gaps in existing literature did your research aim to address?
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What did you find lacking in prior empirical studies on stress management?
4. Methodology
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What was your research design (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method)?
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How did you select your participants (e.g., industry, job roles, experience)?
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Which instruments or scales did you use to measure occupational stress?
(E.g., Occupational Stress Index, Perceived Stress Scale, Cohen’s Stress Scale) -
How did you ensure the reliability and validity of these tools?
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Did you use any control variables (e.g., age, gender, experience, job role)?
5. Data Analysis
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What statistical tools did you use to analyze the data? (e.g., SPSS, AMOS, SEM, Regression Analysis)
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How did you handle variables like coping mechanisms, resilience, or emotional intelligence?
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What correlations or significant findings emerged?
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Did you find any unexpected trends in the data?
6. Key Findings & Discussion
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What are the major contributors to occupational stress in your study?
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How does stress affect employee performance, turnover, or engagement?
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Were there gender, age, or role-based differences in stress levels?
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What coping strategies were identified, and how effective are they?
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How do your findings compare with existing research?
7. Implications & Recommendations
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What interventions can HR departments implement based on your findings?
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How can stress management be integrated into HR policy?
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What role can leadership and organizational culture play in reducing stress?
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Can your findings be generalized across industries or countries?
8. Limitations & Future Research
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What are the limitations of your study?
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Were there any challenges in measuring psychological constructs like stress?
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What improvements would you make if you conducted the study again?
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What areas of occupational stress need further exploration?
9. Contribution to HRM
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How does your research contribute to the field of Human Resource Management?
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What’s the originality or novelty in your thesis?
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Have you developed or modified any conceptual models or frameworks?
10. Practical & Personal Reflection
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How can your findings help HR practitioners improve employee well-being?
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What insights did you gain personally from this research?
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How has this research influenced your view of HR as a profession?
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What’s your future plan—academia, consulting, corporate HR?
Bonus: Likely Examiner-Specific Questions
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Why did you select this population or sector?
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Were any participants reluctant to speak about their stress levels?
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How did you address ethical concerns related to studying mental health or stress?
