Research 201: Individual Exercise
© Brian Brown 1999-2000. All rights reserved.

This assignment complements the group research assignment. It is an individual assignment. You are to research one of the following people, and present your research findings on the last week of this course. You will arrange to have a printout of your research findings for marking, as well as use a small power-point or similar presentation to class. All presentations will be video-taped for marking purposes.

Presentations to class should last no more than 10 minutes. You should rehearse your presentation to ensure that you do not go over time. The presentation is a synopsis of your research, what you found and why it is important.

I have given a list of possible topics at the end of this assignment. Please chose one topic that no-one else has selected. You must research the topic along the following lines.

What was it? Who where they? What was the time frame in which they lived?

What was the contribution to our way of thinking? How did it alter the way we perceived the world or reality? What were the main views expressed? Summarise the main points. What type of research was it? Qualitative, Quantitative? Is it important to us today? Why? Why not? What are the lessons we can learn? Did they suggest other areas of research?

For bonus points, apply the theory to yourself, your beliefs, a situation you are in, or an organisation you are familar with (such as work, university, or family).

Possible List of research topics

The enlightenment
The Renaissance
Modernism
Post-modernism
Avant Garde