http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/stem Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:15:00 -0400 Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:15:00 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1927/deconstructing-social-classification-and-mobility-the-hindu-varna-system-platos-magnificent-myth-and-the-british-caste-system By Aadi C. Krishna - This research elucidates the striking parallelism between the Hindu Varna System and Plato's Magnificent Myth through an unorthodox view of their class-based classification, social mobility, and meritocracy while arguing that these stem from the Arguments from Division of Labor and Biological Determinism. Furthermore, it establishes that the Caste System introduced in India by the British in the 18th Century fundamentally differs from the systems followed in ancient India and Athens and investigates the fundamental forces and the motivations behind its implementation. Lastly, the paper conducts... Fri, 10 Dec 2021 02:49 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1927/deconstructing-social-classification-and-mobility-the-hindu-varna-system-platos-magnificent-myth-and-the-british-caste-system http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1900/the-holistic-universe-wisdom-as-attention-to-the-cohesion-of-physicality-and-immateriality By Erin Aslami - We are all witnesses. You see and are seen; you step in and step out. You brush your hair out of your face, out of the face of a friend, a lover. Sometimes, you feel that the lock of hair is something more than the strands that compose it, and that stroking it strokes something not-quite physical. In your power of physical and emotional cohesion, you practice wisdom. You knit together the self and the other, the self and the body, the body and the world, the physical and the spiritual. You sense how the material and immaterial encompass each other. They are not only the most intimate of dance... Tue, 11 May 2021 02:40 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1900/the-holistic-universe-wisdom-as-attention-to-the-cohesion-of-physicality-and-immateriality http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1874/cross-cultural-differences-in-memory-beliefs-and-mental-schemas By Zachary Hendricks - Although it is self-evident that one’s memories are often fleeting, a large amount of empirical research has been done within the field of cognitive psychology supporting the notion that one of the mind’s most extensive faults is its faculty for memory. Our memory system is, in a sense, defined through its shortcomings. It cannot store an unlimited amount of information, and because of this limitation, evolved to remember only what it deems relevant to the moment. Two questions necessarily follow this fact: what exactly makes something worth remembering, and how much of that thing... Wed, 10 Feb 2021 02:55 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1874/cross-cultural-differences-in-memory-beliefs-and-mental-schemas http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1869/a-barrier-to-prosperity-analyzing-the-impact-of-israeli-security-policy-on-palestinian-manufacturing-productivity By Zachary T. Fesen - Israel has increased the nation’s security presence around the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank. Here, the research project analyzes how transaction costs resulting from Israeli security policy impact the output of manufacturing activities in the Palestinian territories. The study examines transaction costs in the form of import restrictions and items Israel restricts from entering the Palestinian territories in the form of the dual-use goods list. Existing research outlines trade restrictions from Israeli security policy but does not explain how the restrictions impact Palestinian manufacturing... Wed, 27 Jan 2021 10:15 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1869/a-barrier-to-prosperity-analyzing-the-impact-of-israeli-security-policy-on-palestinian-manufacturing-productivity http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1868/stereotypes-in-bollywood-cinema-does-article-15-reinforce-the-dalit-narrative By Khushi Gupta - The vacuum created by the absence of any response or resistance from the Dalit characters elaborate that the oppressed themselves cannot speak and thus are spoken for. Having denied Dalits their voice, the non- Dalits have become a self-appointed spokesperson of the Dalits throughout history. Such depiction in Bollywood have resulted in the misrepresentation and misappropriation of Dalits experiences. The continuous stereotypical representation as submissive, dark-skinned, shabby and under-confident individuals continue in the films. There is a repeated portrayal of men and women being outcasted... Tue, 26 Jan 2021 11:54 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1868/stereotypes-in-bollywood-cinema-does-article-15-reinforce-the-dalit-narrative http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1835/has-the-us-constitution-reached-its-expiration-date-a-review-and-criticism-of-the-worlds-longest-lasting-constitution By Emma L. Bernstein - The United States Constitution is the longest lasting written constitution in the world, despite the fact that one of the key framers, Thomas Jefferson, believed that written constitutions ought to have a nineteen year expiration date before they are revised or rewritten. Yet, it has been nearly thirty years since the United States Constitution has even been amended, and critics believe many aspects of the Constitution are no longer suitable for the United States today. This article argues that the Constitution is long overdue to be amended or even rewritten. It will first analyze factors that... Tue, 10 Nov 2020 08:36 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1835/has-the-us-constitution-reached-its-expiration-date-a-review-and-criticism-of-the-worlds-longest-lasting-constitution http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1799/unification-of-mind-matter-and-consciousness-through-an-essence-of-relation By Jacob Bell - In contemporary philosophy, the mind-body problem and the problem of consciousness are often viewed through the lens of physicalism, which claims that all that exists is physical. Physicalism in general, and reductive physicalism specifically, remain inadequate in explaining, describing, or understanding consciousness and the mind because such things diverge in their ontological status and thus cannot be fully accounted for from within a physicalist worldview. Accounting for consciousness, for example, requires the acknowledgment that physical facts cannot describe everything, and that phenomenal... Fri, 18 Sep 2020 09:39 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1799/unification-of-mind-matter-and-consciousness-through-an-essence-of-relation http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1735/on-the-necessity-of-developing-general-education-for-undergraduates-in-chinese-higher-institutions By Songchen Ma - The promotion of general education is a matter of ongoing debate owing to the pressing question of how to improve higher education in China. However, the available analytical material still remains somewhat experiential and emotion-oriented.In this paper the author—an undergraduate student of engineering who has received professional education at a prestigious top 10 university in China—reviews the origins of and literature pertaining to general education in the West. Subsequently in its literature review and cultural criticism study,this paper demonstrates the importance of developing... Mon, 23 Apr 2018 11:42 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1735/on-the-necessity-of-developing-general-education-for-undergraduates-in-chinese-higher-institutions http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1718/debating-space-through-the-gand#246;ttingen-review-why-kants-transcendental-ideality-of-space-exceeds-berkeleys-subjective-idealist-interpretation By Rocco A. Astore - It is not often that one questions the nature of space, in fact, most people understand extension as independent of their mind as well as the objects that appear in their surrounding world. However, in a radical twist, fitting for the revolutionary epoch of the Enlightenment, Königsberg scholar, philosopher Immanuel Kant forwarded a strikingly new hypothesis. To Kant, although the representations of objects rely on space for their subsistence, minds are independent of it, since they alone impose space onto the world of appearance. Despite his view not being readily defendable by all his peers... Tue, 09 Jan 2018 04:25 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1718/debating-space-through-the-gand#246;ttingen-review-why-kants-transcendental-ideality-of-space-exceeds-berkeleys-subjective-idealist-interpretation http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1662/facts-beliefs-and-the-brain-how-propaganda-ideology-and-donald-trump-inhabit-the-group-mind By Anthony R. Brunello - “Though aimed at blue-state sophisticates, these shows are an unintended but powerful form of propaganda for conservatives. When Republicans see these harsh jokes—which echo down through morning news shows and the chattering day’s worth of viral clips, along with those of Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers—they don’t just see a handful of comics mocking them. They see HBO, Comedy Central, TBS, ABC, CBS and NBC. In other words they see exactly what Donald Trump has taught them: that the entire media landscape loathes them, their values, their family, and... Tue, 24 Oct 2017 11:32 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1662/facts-beliefs-and-the-brain-how-propaganda-ideology-and-donald-trump-inhabit-the-group-mind http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1634/more-choices-more-voices By Nikko Bilitza - The relationship between party system fragmentation and voter turnout is not entirely understood in contemporary political science literature. It is often assumed that party system fragmentation is a primary driver of proportional representation's tendency to produce higher turnout, however its effects on turnout across electoral systems has been sparsely studied. This paper seeks to assess this relationship through a sample study of 17 countries with both majoritarian and proportional electoral studies. The study finds that increased party system fragmentation increases voter turnout in countries... Sun, 30 Apr 2017 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1634/more-choices-more-voices http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1501/its-a-wise-child-a-levinasian-analysis-of-j-d-salingers-glass-family-stories By Nivetha Nagarajan - J. D. Salinger is a household name in America, but relatively few people know of his Glass family characters. Seven impossibly bright and witty adult siblings and their parents populate his later work, from their first appearance in the short story “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” that appeared in The New Yorker in 1948, to their last in “Hapworth 16, 1924” in the same publication in 1965. The Glass siblings are unique in that they have an eccentric family culture centered around religion and philosophy. All seven of them were precocious geniuses as children and were featured... Wed, 30 Nov 2016 11:55 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1501/its-a-wise-child-a-levinasian-analysis-of-j-d-salingers-glass-family-stories http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1535/an-analysis-of-the-threat-of-ontarios-hydroelectric-dams-on-its-river-ecosystems By Nicholas Scrivens - Dams have been used for centuries to assist with the development of human civilization. Access to drinking water, flood control and agricultural irrigation are historical reasons for the development of dams and river impoundments. The abundance of large rivers in Ontario has enabled 22% of the province's power generation to be based on renewable hydroelectric power. The composition of Ontario's energy portfolio is shifting away from carbon intensive energy production and towards hydroelectric power, which presents a threat to Ontario's rivers. What is the extent of the threat of storage and hydroelectric... Wed, 30 Nov 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1535/an-analysis-of-the-threat-of-ontarios-hydroelectric-dams-on-its-river-ecosystems http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1481/intellectual-responsibility-and-the-epistemic-search-comparing-plato-and-augustine By Leah M. Palmer - In the earliest stages of education, children naturally start to interrogate their elders with the question “why?” This is not surprising and it would often even be concerning if a child did not show signs of curiosity early in life. This natural curiosity, the search for knowledge, follows necessarily from man’s rational nature—the pride and joy of humanity—what sets us apart from the animals. The words, “All men desire to know” (Arist. Meta., 1.980a) have become a cornerstone for explaining the nature of humanity. Epistemology takes this desire to its... Mon, 31 Oct 2016 09:25 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1481/intellectual-responsibility-and-the-epistemic-search-comparing-plato-and-augustine http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1469/canadian-democracy-in-theory-and-practice-the-roots-of-semi-representative-liberalism By Carter Vance - This article explores the nature of Canada’s political system as an evolving consequence of its roots in classical liberal thinking coupled with the self-protecting instincts of a variety of elite interest groups. In performing this exploration, through the political economy of such issues as free trade and public versus private service provision, it argues that this system deliberately closes down certain political possibilities by institutionally underrepresenting particular communities and restricting policy sovereignty via international agreements. This creates disconnects between the... Thu, 27 Oct 2016 10:57 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1469/canadian-democracy-in-theory-and-practice-the-roots-of-semi-representative-liberalism http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1461/interpreting-political-unrest-in-hong-kong-through-the-midnight-after-2014 By Justin Wong Jun-sheng - Hong Kong is standing at a crucial social and political juncture in its history. A former British colony, it has retained its unique legal system, electoral system, and political democracy. These systems have worked together to create a society in which residents are entitled to their rights with a strong and equal rule of law that governs the society. The 1st of July 1997 marked the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC (HKSAR). Many fear that as time progresses, the PRC... Mon, 17 Oct 2016 08:43 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1461/interpreting-political-unrest-in-hong-kong-through-the-midnight-after-2014 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1420/the-rise-of-global-health-how-did-health-become-a-matter-of-global-concern By Samuel W. Singler - Global health governance is often traced back to the mid-nineteenth century, when European states participated in the International Sanitary Conference of 1851 in order to standardize quarantine regulations, constituting one of the earliest multilateral responses to an international health issue (McKee et al., 2001: 7). Technological innovations and the confirmation of germ theory contributed to increased international cooperation in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in order to prevent the spread of disease across national borders, leading to the creation of the International... Thu, 09 Jun 2016 11:33 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1420/the-rise-of-global-health-how-did-health-become-a-matter-of-global-concern http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1448/do-healthcare-systems-discriminate-a-comparative-policy-analysis-of-health-inequality-in-the-united-states-and-united-kingdom By Sarah E. Rudasill - This comparative analysis of U.S. and U.K. healthcare systems pinpoints inequalities in health outcomes and recommends policies to alleviate disparities. Mortality data from the CDC'S WONDER Database and Cancer Research U.K. were used to analyze two gendered conditions – female breast cancer and male prostate cancer– for mortality rates and relative mortality ratios by region, race, and socioeconomic status. The data indicate that although the United States outperforms the United Kingdom in overall mortality rates for breast and prostate cancers, outcomes for U.S. Black residents are... Tue, 31 May 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1448/do-healthcare-systems-discriminate-a-comparative-policy-analysis-of-health-inequality-in-the-united-states-and-united-kingdom http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1396/the-implausibility-of-the-barter-narrative-and-credit-money-in-ancient-babylon By R. D. Baker - Whereas the standard economics textbook literature motivates the emergence of money by pointing to the inefficiencies of barter economies, there is virtually no historical evidence that this is how money actually came about. Due to the lack of evidence for the existence of barter economies, an attempt is made therefore to hypothesize an origin of money which is more compatible with the organization of early societies. This alternative story is explained with the help of a model of four trading merchants, in which barter is shown to be dominated by credit simply on the basis of bargaining power... Thu, 14 Apr 2016 08:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1396/the-implausibility-of-the-barter-narrative-and-credit-money-in-ancient-babylon http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1377/todays-non-traditional-student-challenges-to-academic-success-and-degree-completion By Karen M. Watkins-Lewis - Nontraditional students represent a substantial proportion of those enrolled in higher education institutions. The purpose of this literature review is to identify (1) distinctions between traditional and nontraditional students and (2) factors that impact retention among nontraditional students. Age, selection of major among females, socio-culture, environmental factors and enrollment status were identified as barriers to degree completion. Proactive intervention as a possible strategy for improving academic success, and implications for higher education institutions are discussed. Higher education... Tue, 15 Mar 2016 11:17 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1377/todays-non-traditional-student-challenges-to-academic-success-and-degree-completion http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1368/utilizing-technology-for-learning-stem-subjects-perceptions-of-urban-african-american-middle-school-students By Xue Wen - This study was designed to explore current issues of access, interests and attitudes towards technology use in STEM related courses for a population of middle school students enrolled at a Title I urban school in the South. The participants in the study were largely African-American students enrolled in grades 6, 7 and 8. Data were collected from 124 usable anonymous surveys. The study focused on respondents’ perceptions of and experiences with computers and mobile devices, especially with respect to learning in math, science, technology and other so-called STEM courses. Potential differences... Mon, 22 Feb 2016 04:15 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1368/utilizing-technology-for-learning-stem-subjects-perceptions-of-urban-african-american-middle-school-students http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1354/examining-free-will-through-spinoza-and-descartes By Rocco A. Astore - According to Spinoza, for something to be entirely free it must be uncompelled in all ways and also the cause of itself.[1] Furthermore, because he believes that there is only one substance that causes itself, which is God, or Nature, and since he states it is uncompelled due to its existence being identical to its essence, it follows that due to its essence being of a self-determined nature, it by necessity exists without being dependent on any other being.[2] Also, since God is uncompelled, all things that derive from it are modes of its attributes and are not to be understood as being at the... Sun, 14 Feb 2016 03:53 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1354/examining-free-will-through-spinoza-and-descartes http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1346/responsiveness-in-american-higher-education-the-evolution-of-institutional-governance-structures By Jonathan W. Stoessel - Building a framework to understand a complex system, such as American Higher Education, requires a focused approach. The richness of history behind colleges and universities in the United States can lead analysts in any number of directions. From economics to governance, to curriculum and accreditation, approaches to analyzing the system have grown exponentially as more stakeholders have been brought into the conversation. As the demand for higher education has become an international imperative, perhaps it is more fitting to analyze what makes the American system unique. In his work, the &ldquo... Mon, 01 Feb 2016 10:03 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1346/responsiveness-in-american-higher-education-the-evolution-of-institutional-governance-structures http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1530/toxicological-effects-of-nanomaterials-on-aqueous-and-terrestrial-ecosystems By Sabina Hyseni - This paper provides a holistic overview of the effects of engineered and natural nanomaterials (ENMs and NNMs) in the environment. Through increasing production and technology, NMs are contaminating the air, soil, and water with large toxicological implications. The proposed pathways of nanomaterials in the environment suggest that they accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic environment due to emissions, surface runoff and effluent from wastewater treatment facilities. Nanomaterial toxicological studies have also shown large bactericidal and mutagenic effects due to the metal ion properties, stabilizing... Sun, 31 Jan 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1530/toxicological-effects-of-nanomaterials-on-aqueous-and-terrestrial-ecosystems http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1239/examination-of-woodchuck-marmota-monax-burrowing-behavior-and-relationship-between-burrow-diameter-and-distance-from-water By Peter Rowe - Using data collected through field research at Tyler State Park in Pennsylvania, this study examines the characteristics of Woodchuck (Marmota monax) burrows along a creek tributary. This study finds that there is a robust positive correlation between the diameter of the burrow and this distance from the creek tributary. Using an unpaired t-test, the data was found to be significant with a p-value of 0.0003 (p< 0.05 is considered significant). A negative relationship between burrow dip angle and the distance from the creek tributary was also found and confirmed using an unpaired t-test, as... Wed, 21 Oct 2015 12:40 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1239/examination-of-woodchuck-marmota-monax-burrowing-behavior-and-relationship-between-burrow-diameter-and-distance-from-water http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1006/the-researcher-at-the-dance-epistemology-ethics-and-the-ethnographer By Christopher T. McMaster - Before the ethnographer can enter the field of research, indeed, before the researcher can interpret data from the field, he or she must first be aware of how knowledge and meaning are made. The epistemological lens the ethnographer uses will have crucial implications on the hows and the whys—not only of the research itself—but on the role of the researcher. This essay will argue (with the assistance of two young parents, one salmon, and a farm yard full of dancers) that the only ethical ethnography is critical, and the responsibility of the ethnographer is to actively participate... Fri, 06 Mar 2015 04:22 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1006/the-researcher-at-the-dance-epistemology-ethics-and-the-ethnographer http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/979/comparing-health-systems-and-challenges-in-costa-rica-and-the-united-states By Sarah E. Rudasill - Rising rates of chronic diseases, aging populations, and mounting medical costs threaten the financial solvency of the health care systems of the United States and Costa Rica. Despite ranking 1st in health expenditures, the United States achieves the same health outcomes as Costa Rica, a country that ranks 50th in expenditures. As a result, the United States is transitioning to Costa Rica’s model of government-sponsored care in an effort to reduce costs just as Costa Rica begins shifting away from centralization of medical care in an effort to improve quality. However, many of the fiscal... Sun, 01 Feb 2015 02:30 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/979/comparing-health-systems-and-challenges-in-costa-rica-and-the-united-states http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/984/how-the-electrical-activity-and-synaptogenesis-of-neurons-contribute-to-the-efficacy-of-neurofeedback-therapy By Sabrina Perry - Neurofeedback Therapy (NFT) is a type of biofeedback therapy specifically targeting the brain and nervous system. According to the Mayo Clinic, biofeedback is defined as a technique one can use to learn to control the body’s functions, done usually by connecting one’s body (bio) to electrical sensors that help you receive information about it (feedback). This can help people focus on making subtle changes in their bodies, such as relaxing certain muscles to achieve certain results, such as pain reduction. Subsequently, the Task Force on Nomenclature specified that the presentation... Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/984/how-the-electrical-activity-and-synaptogenesis-of-neurons-contribute-to-the-efficacy-of-neurofeedback-therapy http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/935/phantom-limb-pain-causes-and-treatment-options By Jerzy Dzierla - Phantom-limb pain is usually described as burning, stabbing, throbbing, cramping or squeezing (Flor 2002: 182; Nikolajsen and Jensen 2001: 108). Researchers have identified a number of factors having a modulatory effect on the probability of the occurrence of phantom-limb pain. Among the best documented variables which can contribute to the development of phantom-limb pain sensations are the amputation site, pre-amputation pain, residual limb pain, time after amputation, sex, as well as conditions of psychological nature like stress and depression (Knotkova et al. 2012: 39; Subedi and Grossberg... Sun, 02 Nov 2014 09:44 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/935/phantom-limb-pain-causes-and-treatment-options http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/910/describing-the-world-or-transforming-it-considering-the-roles-of-the-arts-and-the-natural-sciences By Amrita N. Singh - We often acquire knowledge about the world through the detailed process of description. We understand even more by describing and explaining to others—people often report that they only really understand a topic once they have described it to someone else. Further, description is primarily about the way we perceive the world to be. Through this, we can refine our understanding and gradually acquire more knowledge; however, this begs the question as to where fundamentally new paradigms—radical changes isome n core beliefs—come from. According to Robert Gass, “transformation... Sun, 31 Aug 2014 11:01 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/910/describing-the-world-or-transforming-it-considering-the-roles-of-the-arts-and-the-natural-sciences