Intrinsic Investigations: Exploring the Impact of Original Student Research
Education & Explainer
About
Intrinsic Investigations is a podcast to showcase the work and ideas of high school students after a year of conducting original research. By sharing their stories, we hope to normalize the challenges and frustrations that come with independent research and also share those moments where students transcend the normal grind of the school day to discover concepts that range from the global to deeply personal.
Episodes
- Honorifics in New Jersey Gubernatorial Debates
This episode of Intrinsic Investigations examines honorifics in New Jersey gubernatorial debates. Tyler reviews debates from 1980 to the present, analyzing how candidate language changed and its impact on voter engagement.
- Examining Eye Witness Testimony with a Meta-Analysis
This episode examines eyewitness testimony accuracy through a meta-analysis conducted by Maria. It explores how human memory flaws can impact legal proceedings.
- Narrative Disposability in Hispanic Love Interests in Television Shows
In this episode of Intrinsic Investigations, Katelyn presents a media studies project analyzing the representation of Hispanic love interests in television. The discussion focuses on the narrative outcomes for these characters within roman…
- Marine Heatwaves and Krill Temperature Tolerance
This episode features a discussion on marine heatwaves in the Southern Ocean and their potential impact on krill populations and the trophic web. The conversation highlights the importance of scientific research in understanding these envi…
- AI Storytelling
Andrew, a student interested in creative writing, investigated how well generative AI can handle the Hero's Journey narrative structure and character development, comparing its output to human writing. The episode concludes with a conversa…
- So Many Meta-Analyses
Three students, Tanvi, Jamila, and Rachael, completed meta-analyses on diverse topics including cancer research, lab mice pup mortality, and parental well-being. The episode explains what a meta-analysis is.
- Headline Framing of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
This episode features Wesley's examination of how headlines about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict are framed across top U.S. online news sites. The discussion covers news consumption, headline influence, and the effect of language on publ…
- Institutional Review Boards and Survey Design
Stephanie and Emily discuss their experiences with Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and survey design. They provide tips for students on navigating the approval process for research involving human subjects, clarifying that surveys requi…
- Assumptions About Video Games and Violence
This episode discusses misconceptions about video games and violence, noting mixed research results on causal links. Jacob analyzed YouTube engagement patterns on related videos and examines how perceptions can impact policy, regardless of…
- Medical School Burnout and Plastic Surgery Promotion
Chloe and Tessa share their research findings, with Chloe analyzing content on medical student burnout and Tessa examining the portrayal of breast augmentation by plastic surgeons on Instagram. The episode also touches on their future care…
- Trump Rhetoric in Presidential Debates and Rallies
This episode features a student research project analyzing President Trump's rhetoric. Jenna focused on violent language in debates, while Sarah examined misogynistic language used at 2024 campaign rallies. The discussion includes patterns…
- Weight Loss Commentary on TikTok
This episode features Vena's analysis of TikTok's weight loss culture, examining comments that either support or critique toxic content. The discussion extends to the rise of online food and diet trends, and the benefits of journaling for…
- Reviews of Kids' TV & AAPI Children's Books
In this episode, Lily and Hailey analyze reviews of children's TV shows and books featuring AAPI representation, identifying patterns and evaluation techniques. They conclude by discussing their personal growth during their two years in th…
- Comparing Black Student Perceptions of Higher Education (HBCUs & PWIs) on X
Kameron discusses his AP Capstone research analyzing Black students' tweets on X about their experiences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). The research compares tweet conte…
- The Political Rhetoric of Senators on X
In the final episode of Season 1, Jinu presents his research on the political rhetoric of senators on the platform X. The discussion also touches on the importance of patience and well-being for high-achieving students, with Jinu emphasizi…
- Peace Journalism
The podcast begins by detailing how Daniel inspired its creation. It then defines peace journalism and explores its relevance to US media coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Anthropomorphic Language about AI
This episode explores anthropomorphic language in the context of AI. Host Ben discusses what anthropomorphic language is and why it should be used with caution when describing AI systems, including the implications of attributing human-lik…
- Fad Diets on TikTok
This episode features Bryan's analysis of TikTok users' views on fad diets, differentiating his definition from his biology class's. It follows a previous episode also situated on TikTok.
- Type 1 Diabetes Stigma in Film
Bela examines the depiction of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in films and discusses the application of content analysis within the public health field.
- English Mixing in Korean Advertising
Claire discusses student research on how English language usage in South Korean advertising affects stock performance. The episode also explains the term "Konglish" and touches upon getting into K-Pop.
- Light Pollution Levels
Luke compares satellite projections of light pollution with primary data he collected, highlighting the health impacts and importance of understanding light pollution in our environment. The episode also touches on his personal interests.
- Chat GPT, Political Bias, and Hate Speech
This episode discusses political bias in ChatGPT and its potential use as a hate speech detector. It also features a candid conversation about the role of AI in education.
- TikTok Filtering of Sexually Suggestive Content
This episode features Elise discussing her research into TikTok's content filtering system. She investigated how effectively the platform prevents sexually suggestive material from reaching young users by employing three distinct filtering…
- Media Imperialism
This episode explores media imperialism by comparing news coverage of the military coup in Myanmar and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A Burmese restaurant is also recommended.
- Senior Reflection
Former students Suan and Melinda discuss their experiences in a research program, highlighting the role of relationships and their growth over two years in the Capstone.
- Exon Skipping as a Treatment for Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
Aadi and Kyriloss conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of exon skipping gene therapy for Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The episode discusses the therapy's impact on the quality of life for individuals with DMD.
- Dialogue in the Anorexic Community on Tumblr
This episode features Amelie's analysis of how anorexia is discussed on Tumblr, utilizing content analysis and the EPITOME scale. The discussion begins at the 1:05 mark.
- Implicit Marketing in Firearms
This episode delves into implicit marketing strategies within the firearms industry, examining the role of podcasts as a potentially overlooked advertising platform.