Cairo University

Faculty of Dentistry - the Academic year 2022/2023

summer 2023
Program: DIIP Department:
Test Form: ………………….
Course name (Scientific Thinking) Course code (CMDNT1021)
Final Written Exam: 4 pages Time allowed: 60 mins.
Number of MCQ: (40) questions Each question = 1.0 mark
Total assessment: (40) marks Final allocated marks: (40)
Final Oral Exam: 1 page Time allowed: 10 mins.
Number of MCQ: (10) questions Each question = 1.0 mark
Total assessment: (10) marks Final allocated marks: (10)
Midterm written Exam: 3 pages Time allowed: 40 mins.
Number of MCQ: (30) questions Each question = 1.0 mark
Total assessment: (30) marks Final allocated marks: (30)
QUIZ: 1 page Time: 10 mins.
Number of MCQ: (10) Questions Each question = 0.5 marks
Total assessment: (5) marks Final allocated marks: (5)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Fouad Abulmakarim Signature:
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 Final Written Exam
40 Multiple Choice Questions (1.0 mark/question)
1. describes knowledge that is based on experience and observations that are rational, testable, and
repeatable.
A. empirical
B. scientific method
C. hypothesis
D. evolution
2. A proposed explanation for an observed phenomenon.
A. Common sense
B. hypothesis
C. empirical
D. theory
3. hypotheses and theories not supported by trustworthy and methodical scientific studies (but presented as
if they were).
A. electromagnetism
B. relativity
C. pseudoscience
D. Testing hypothesis
4. A body of knowledge based on observation, description, experimentation, and explanation of natural
phenomena.
A. science
B. independent variable
C. dependent variable
D. Empirical results
5. A process of examination and discovery of natural phenomena involving making observations,
constructing hypotheses, testing predictions, experimenting, and drawing conclusions and revising them
as necessary.
A. scientific method
B. experimentation
C. critical variables
D. objective observation
6. An explanatory hypothesis for a natural phenomenon that is exceptionally well supported by empirical
data.
A. Common sense
B. theory
C. experiment
D. observation
7. conduct a critical experiment:
A. manipulated variable
B. Testing hypothesis
C. empirical
D. data
8. based on experience and observation that are rational, testable, and repeatable.
A. collection of information
B. testable prediction
C. scientific laws
D. Empirical Knowledge
9. based on real facts and not influenced by personal beliefs or feelings.
A. scientific laws
B. objectivity
C. experimental bias
D. scientific method
10. describe things that happen the same way every time. They describe specific relationships in nature
without offering any explanation for them.
A. scientific laws
B. design of an experiment
C. ethics

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 D. Empirical Knowledge
11. Which of the following is usually employed before the others by an investigator using the scientific
method?
A. draw conclusions
B. make revisions
C. make observations
D. testable prediction
12. Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
A. scientific laws
B. subjective
C. Empirical Knowledge
D. theory
13. reasoning from the general to the particular.
A. deductive reasoning
B. scientific laws
C. Testing hypothesis
D. scientific method
14. reasoning from detailed facts to general principles.
A. variables
B. scientific laws
C. inductive reasoning
D. Empirical Knowledge
15. refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based
on the evidence they gather.
A. inductive reasoning
B. theoretical framework
C. scientific inquiry
D. hypotheses formation
16. An informed inference based on experimental data:
A. scientific method
B. inductive reasoning
C. conclusion
D. hypotheses formation
17. The purpose of the experimentation phase of the scientific method is to:
A. Empirical Knowledge
B. gather evidence to support or reject a hypothesis
C. hypotheses formation
D. inductive reasoning
18. In the steps of the scientific method, what is the process where a scientist writes down tentative
explanations or statements about what he/she expects might happen under certain conditions?
A. Empirical Knowledge
B. theory
C. hypotheses formation
D. Testing hypothesis
19. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
A. Common sense is usually a good substitute for the scientific method when trying to understand
the world.
B. The scientific method can be used only to understand scientific phenomena.
C. A hypothesis that does not generate a testable prediction is not useful.
D. All of the above is correct.
20. Thinking scientifically relies on which of the following?
A. deductive reasoning
B. scientific method
C. objective observation and experimentation
D. theory
21. Empirical knowledge is the knowledge that is based on experience and observation. Which of the
following are characteristics of reliable empirical data?
A. It is rational.
B. It is testable.

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 C. It is repeatable.
D. All of the above is correct.
22. Which of the following is NOT an example of a theory?
A. evolution
B. relativity
C. gravity
D. All of the above are considered to be theories.
23. Which of the following statements could NOT arise from making scientific observations?
A. Human twins have the same DNA.
B. The hair on my legs grew to a length of 1 cm in 3 days after shaving it off.
C. The quartz crystal I had in my pocket today increased the likelihood of life being discovered on
other planets by ten times.
D. There are tiny creatures visible under a microscope that can't be seen by the naked eye.
24. A relationship that has been established based on a large amount of observational and experimental
data is:
A. a theory
B. a conjecture
C. an assumption
D. a fact
25. The raw materials of science are:
A. atoms
B. predictions
C. lack of relationship
D. observations
26. Empirical results:
A. must support the tested hypothesis.
B. are based on observation.
C. are generated by theories.
D. cannot be replicated.
27. Which of the following is a key element of scientific thinking?
A. Making assumptions based on personal beliefs.
B. Relying solely on intuition.
C. Using logical reasoning to analyze data.
D. Ignoring empirical evidence.
28. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of science?
A. Systematic approach.
B. Evidence-based.
C. Relies on personal beliefs.
D. Observation and experimentation.
29. seeking information for the sake of information.
A. Basic science
B. predictions
C. Applied science
D. observations
30. usage and knowledge of tools, techniques, crafts, systems, or methods of organization.
A. Science
B. Technology
C. Philosophy
D. predictions
31. A general, fact-based understanding of the basics of biology and other sciences, the scientific method,
and the social, political, and legal implications of scientific information.
A. blind experimental design
B. the test groups
C. scientific literacy
D. the experimental group
32. An experiment that makes it possible to determine decisively between alternative hypotheses.
A. the blind group
B. electromagnetism
C. the independent group

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 D. critical experiment
33. A set of analytical and mathematical tools designed to further understanding of numerical data.
A. statistics
B. treatment
C. placebo
D. theories
34. The irrational belief that actions not related by logic to a course of events can influence an outcome.
A. variables
B. superstition
C. scientific method step 3
D. hypotheses
35. What is the importance of peer review in science?
A. To confirm personal biases.
B. To ensure that research is published quickly.
C. To evaluate and critique research before it is published.
D. To avoid using standardized methods and procedures.
36. What is a systematic approach in science?
A. An unstructured approach to research.
B. A structured and logical approach to investigate a research question or natural phenomenon.
C. A way to confirm personal biases.
D. A method to ignore empirical evidence.
37. What is the evidence-based approach in science?
A. A way to ignore empirical evidence.
B. A way to avoid testing hypotheses.
C. A way to confirm personal biases.
D. A way to rely on empirical evidence gathered through observation, experimentation, and other
methods.
38. something that you think might occur in an experiment.
A. prediction
B. conduct a critical experiment
C. scientific method step 5
D. double-blind experimental design
39. marked by or given to doubt or having an attitude of doubt.
A. manipulated variable
B. skepticism
C. evaluating
D. bias
40. rules that enable people to know right from wrong.
A. data
B. Empirical results
C. ethics
D. experimental bias
End of the final written exam.

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 Final Oral Exam
10 Multiple Choice Questions (1.0 mark/question)
1. Which of the following is not an example of empirical observation?
A. Measuring the height of a plant every day for a week.
B. Asking people how they feel about a particular topic.
C. Observing the behavior of animals in their natural habitat.
D. Taking a photograph of a sunset.
2. What is the difference between direct and indirect empirical observation?
A. Direct observation involves the use of technology, while indirect observation involves the use of
the senses.
B. Direct observation involves measuring physical properties, while indirect observation involves
measuring psychological states.
C. Direct observation involves observing phenomena directly, while indirect observation involves
inferring phenomena from other observations.
D. Direct observation involves collecting quantitative data, while indirect observation involves
collecting qualitative data.
3. What is the first step in critical thinking in scientific thinking?
A. Observing and collecting data.
B. Jumping to conclusions.
C. Memorizing scientific facts.
D. None of the above.
4. What is the goal of the null hypothesis?
A. To provide a starting point for the research.
B. To state the researcher's hypothesis.
C. To disprove the researcher's hypothesis.
D. To provide a basis for comparison.
5. What is replicability in scientific research?
A. The ability to reproduce experimental results.
B. The use of statistical analysis to interpret data.
C. The development of new hypotheses based on experimental results.
D. The publication of research findings in scientific journals.
6. What is the first step in replicating an experiment?
A. Developing a hypothesis.
B. Recruiting participants.
C. Identifying the key variables in the experiment.
D. Collecting data.
7. What is the role of falsifiability in scientific experimentation?
A. It ensures that scientists can prove their hypotheses to be true.
B. It ensures that scientists can generate hypotheses that are testable and potentially false.
C. It ensures that scientists can generate hypotheses that are not relevant to the scientific field.
D. It is not important in scientific experimentation.
8. Why is objectivity important in scientific thinking?
A. It allows scientists to produce accurate and reliable results.
B. It makes the research process more enjoyable.
C. It ensures that the research is profitable.
D. all of the above.
9. What is the primary goal of systematic investigation in scientific thinking?
A. To support pre-existing beliefs.
B. To prove a hypothesis correct.
C. To discover new knowledge through a structured approach.
D. To provide subjective opinions.
10. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using a structured approach to research in systematic
investigation?
A. It allows for unbiased conclusions.
B. It reduces the influence of personal opinions.
C. It promotes predetermined results.
D. It provides a more rigorous and reliable research process.
End of the final oral exam.

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 Midterm Exam
30 Multiple Choice Questions (1.0 mark/question)
1. How are scientific theories supported?
A. By anecdotal evidence.
B. By a small body of evidence.
C. By a large body of evidence.
D. None of the above.
2. How does peer review help ensure the reliability of research findings?
A. By identifying potential flaws or errors in the research.
B. By promoting scientific collaboration.
C. By preventing the publication of negative results.
D. By increasing the publicity of the research.
3. What is the first step in hypothesis testing?
A. Collect data.
B. Define the research question.
C. Conduct a literature review.
D. Develop a hypothesis.
4. Which of the following is not a common assumption in hypothesis testing?
A. Normal distribution of the data.
B. Homogeneity of variances.
C. Independence of observations.
D. Presence of outliers.
5. Which of the following is an example of objective thinking?
A. Believing in a preconceived idea before conducting research.
B. Using evidence to support or reject a hypothesis.
C. Ignoring evidence that contradicts a hypothesis.
D. All of the above.
6. What type of evidence does science rely on?
A. Personal experiences.
B. Subjective interpretations of data.
C. Empirical evidence and scientific methodology.
D. Logical fallacies.
7. Who benefits from peer review?
A. The authors of the research.
B. The public.
C. The reviewers.
D. All of the above.
8. Which of the following best describes the process of empirical observation?
A. Using intuition to come to a conclusion.
B. Making assumptions based on previous knowledge.
C. Collecting data through the use of the senses.
D. Developing a theory without the need for experimentation.
9. What is the role of empirical evidence in the development of scientific theories?
A. It is not important.
B. It is the sole basis for scientific theories.
C. It has a minor role in the development of scientific theories.
D. It contributes to the development of scientific theories and explanations.
10. What is the difference between objective and subjective empirical observation?
A. Objective observation is based on intuition, while subjective observation is based on evidence.
B. Objective observation is based on assumptions, while subjective observation is based on data.
C. Objective observation is based on evidence, while subjective observation is based on personal
opinion.
D. Objective observation is based on data, while subjective observation is based on assumptions.
11. What is a logical fallacy that pseudoscientific claims often rely on?
A. Objectivity.
B. Cherry-picking data.
C. Empirical evidence.
D. Scientific experimentation.

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12. How can researchers increase the likelihood of replicability in their experiments?
A. By using larger sample sizes.
B. By pre-registering their hypotheses.
C. By using blind or double-blind procedures.
D. All of the above.
13. Which of the following best describes systematic investigation in scientific thinking?
A. Collecting data without a plan.
B. Conducting experiments in a random order.
C. Following a structured and planned approach to research.
D. Making assumptions without evidence.
14. Which of the following statements best describes falsifiability in science?
A. The ability of a hypothesis or theory to be proven true.
B. The ability of a hypothesis or theory to be tested and potentially proven false.
C. The ability of a hypothesis or theory to be proven false without testing.
D. The ability of a hypothesis or theory to be proven true without testing.
15. What types of beliefs or practices are often promoted by pseudoscientific claims?
A. Proven scientific facts.
B. Alternative medicine, paranormal phenomena, and conspiracy theories.
C. Empirically supported theories.
D. Objective evidence.
16. Which of the following statements is true about falsifiability?
A. A hypothesis can be considered scientific even if it is not falsifiable.
B. A theory can be considered scientific even if it is not falsifiable.
C. Falsifiability is not a necessary component of scientific thinking.
D. All scientific hypotheses and theories must be falsifiable.
17. Which of the following statements best describes a non-falsifiable hypothesis?
A. A hypothesis that has been proven true.
B. A hypothesis that has been tested and found to be false.
C. A hypothesis that cannot be tested or proven false.
D. A hypothesis that is not relevant to the scientific field.
18. What is required for empirical evidence to be considered scientific?
A. It must be based on personal belief.
B. It must be testable and falsifiable.
C. It must be accepted by everyone in the scientific community.
D. It must be based on indirect observation.
19. What is the role of peer review in systematic investigation?
A. To confirm pre-existing beliefs.
B. To provide subjective opinions.
C. To ensure that research is conducted in a structured and rigorous manner.
D. To promote predetermined results.
20. What makes a good hypothesis?
A. Being untestable and unfalsifiable.
B. Being based on random thoughts.
C. Being based on personal experience.
D. Being testable, falsifiable, and replicable.
21. Why is it important for scientists to be willing to revise their ideas?
A. Because it makes them look good to their peers.
B. Because it allows them to stay true to their original hypotheses.
C. Because science is an ongoing process of discovery and revision.
D. None of the above.
22. Can a hypothesis be proven false?
A. Yes, always.
B. Yes, under certain circumstances.
C. No, never.
D. It depends on the hypothesis.
23. What can explanation in science involve?
A. Developing mathematical models.
B. Developing conceptual models.
C. Both a and b.

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 D. None of the above.
24. What happens if a hypothesis is not supported by the data?
A. The hypothesis is proven false.
B. The hypothesis is supported by the data anyway.
C. The experiment is repeated until the hypothesis is supported.
D. The hypothesis is modified or rejected.
25. Where can experiments be conducted?
A. Only in the laboratory.
B. Only in the field.
C. Both in the laboratory and in the field.
D. None of the above.
26. What is experimentation in science?
A. A way to make up data.
B. A key part of the scientific process.
C. A way to ignore variables.
D. None of the above.
27. What is the importance of analyzing and interpreting data objectively in science?
A. To confirm personal biases.
B. To ensure that results are unreliable and inaccurate.
C. To avoid analyzing and interpreting data objectively.
D. To ensure that results are reliable and accurate.
28. What is the primary goal of science?
A. To confirm personal biases.
B. To understand and explain natural phenomena.
C. To ignore empirical evidence.
D. To make predictions without evidence.
29. What are natural laws and principles?
A. Man-made rules and regulations.
B. Social customs and traditions.
C. Rules and principles that govern the natural world.
D. None of the above.
30. What is required for a scientific explanation?
A. It must be based on empirical evidence.
B. It must be untestable.
C. It must be inconsistent with all available evidence.
D. None of the above.
End of the midterm exam.

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 Quiz
10 Multiple Choice Questions (0.5 marks/question)
1. Why is rigorous testing of hypotheses and theories important in science?
A. To confirm personal biases.
B. To ensure that results are unreliable and inaccurate.
C. To ensure that results are reliable and accurate.
D. To avoid analyzing and interpreting data objectively.
2. What is pseudoscience?
A. A scientific claim supported by reliable evidence.
B. A claim that is presented as scientific but is not supported by reliable scientific evidence.
C. A type of scientific research that involves anecdotal evidence.
D. None of the above.
3. How can hypotheses be tested?
A. Through imagination.
B. Through personal experience.
C. Through experimentation or further observation.
D. Through blind belief
4. How is a hypothesis developed?
A. Through observation and analysis.
B. Through intuition and guesswork.
C. Through blind experimentation.
D. Through deduction and logic.
5. What types of natural phenomena can be observed?
A. Only living organisms.
B. Only non-living objects.
C. Both living organisms and non-living objects.
D. None of the above.
6. What is the importance of testing a hypothesis?
A. To prove a theory.
B. To provide evidence for a law.
C. To establish a fact.
D. To determine the validity of the hypothesis.
7. What are natural phenomena?
A. Man-made objects.
B. Social customs and traditions.
C. Events or processes that occur in the natural world.
D. None of the above.
8. Which of the following is an example of quantitative data collected through empirical observation?
A. The taste of a food.
B. The sound of a bird chirping.
C. The number of people in a room.
D. The height of a tree.
9. Which of the following is an example of pseudoscience?
A. The theory of evolution.
B. Homeopathy.
C. The laws of thermodynamics.
D. None of the above.
10. What is critical thinking in scientific thinking?
A. The ability to think and analyze information objectively and logically.
B. The ability to come up with hypotheses without evidence.
C. The ability to memorize scientific facts.
D. All of the above.
End of the quiz.