Memory Workload: Why Students Feel Anxious During Thesis Defense

Thesis defense is a stressful event for many students. Despite thorough preparation, some experience anxiety and cannot focus, particularly when faced with unexpected questions from examiners. Experts suggest this phenomenon is not just due to inadequate knowledge of the material. Research indicates that psycholinguistic factors, such as the brain’s processing of language under pressure, play a crucial role in why students go ‘blank’ during exams. Dr. Zulkifli Tanipu, a lecturer in the Faculty of Literature and Culture, highlights that excessive memory workload is a key reason for students’ loss of fluency. Students are required to quickly explain theories and research methods and respond to questions, all of which demand emotional stability in a short time frame. This creates significant stress, often perceived as akin to a court trial rather than an academic dialogue.