I found this phrase in a nonfiction book: "The pattern was so basic that it shaped not only individual perceptions but entire fields of inquiry."
I also found many example sentences on the web, such as the following:
* "In any field of inquiry, the beginner is more likely than the expert to make important discoveries."
* "This article seeks to place within a historical perspective the evolution of the economics of religion as a field of inquiry."
* "EEX 7304: Introduction to Field of Inquiry in Special Education"
* "We begin with a set of discriminations imposed on the relevant field of inquiry."
* "...or about how their work can lead to further development of that field of inquiry and eventually thereby to improvement in education."