LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SOWK COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
2026/2027 | 100% Correct Answers with Latest Update
| Verified Edition | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
1. A social worker is faced with an ethical dilemma involving a client's right to
confidentiality and a duty to protect a third party. According to the NASW Code of
Ethics, which principle should guide the social worker's decision?
A) Self-determination
B) Confidentiality
C) Protection of life
D) Informed consent
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The NASW Code of Ethics establishes a hierarchy of values. When there is a
conflict, protection of life supersedes confidentiality. In Tarasoff-like situations, the duty
to protect a third party takes precedence over confidentiality.
2. A school social worker is asked by a teacher to share information about a
student's family situation. Which action should the social worker take first?
A) Provide the information to support the student
B) Review the agency's confidentiality policy and release guidelines
C) Inform the teacher that all information is confidential
D) Ask the parent for written permission
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The social worker should review the agency's confidentiality policy and
release guidelines first. Ethical decisions must be informed by organizational policy, legal
requirements, and NASW standards.
3. A social worker has been practicing for 10 years and notices signs of burnout,
including increased irritability and difficulty concentrating. What is the most
appropriate action?
A) Continue working and ignore the symptoms
B) Request a leave of absence for self-care
,C) Seek supervision to address these issues
D) Take an extended vacation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The NASW Code of Ethics mandates that social workers maintain
professional competence and well-being. Seeking supervision to address these issues is
the best first step.
4. Which principle of the NASW Code of Ethics requires social workers to act in the
best interest of their clients?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Justice
D) Nonmaleficence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good and acting in the client's
best interest.
5. A social worker in private practice decides to terminate services with a client
who has not made progress after a year of treatment. What should the social
worker do?
A) Terminate services immediately
B) Provide a referral for services elsewhere
C) Continue treatment to avoid abandonment
D) Charge a reduced fee
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Social workers should terminate services when they are no longer benefiting
the client. However, they must ensure the client has a referral for continued care,
avoiding abandonment.
6. What is the most appropriate first step when a social worker faces an ethical
dilemma?
A) Consult the NASW Code of Ethics
B) Consult with a supervisor or ethics committee
,C) Use the ethical decision-making model
D) Consult the client's family
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The first step in resolving an ethical dilemma should be to consult the NASW
Code of Ethics. The Code provides the foundational values and standards to guide
decision-making.
7. A social worker receives a subpoena for a client's records. What is the most
appropriate action?
A) Turn over all records as requested
B) Refuse to comply with the subpoena
C) Seek legal advice and assert privilege where appropriate
D) Discuss the subpoena with the client's family
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When a subpoena is received, the social worker should seek legal advice and
assert privilege where appropriate. Social workers should protect client confidentiality to
the extent allowed by law.
8. The NASW Code of Ethics was first adopted in what year?
A) 1955
B) 1960
C) 1965
D) 1970
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The NASW Code of Ethics was first adopted in 1960.
9. The preamble to the NASW Code of Ethics states that the primary mission of the
social work profession is to:
A) Enhance human well-being and meet basic human needs
B) Provide therapy to individuals and families
C) Advocate for political change
D) Conduct research on social problems
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-
being and help meet the basic needs of all people, particularly the vulnerable,
oppressed, and impoverished.
10. A social worker who discovers evidence of fraud in their agency should first:
A) Report the fraud to the authorities immediately
B) Report the fraud internally to a supervisor
C) Ignore it to protect the agency
D) Discuss it with the clients involved
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Social workers have a duty to report unethical conduct. The first step is to
report the fraud internally to a supervisor or appropriate agency official.
11. Cultural competence includes:
A) Knowing the culture of every client
B) Understanding the role of culture in human behavior and social systems
C) Avoiding cultural differences
D) Only working with clients from the same culture
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural competence involves understanding the role of culture in shaping
human behavior and social systems. It also involves continuous self-reflection and
learning about other cultures.
12. What is the principle that social workers should respect clients' right to make
their own decisions?
A) Self-determination
B) Informed consent
C) Confidentiality
D) Nonmaleficence
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Self-determination is the principle of respecting clients' right to make their
own decisions about their lives.
2026/2027 | 100% Correct Answers with Latest Update
| Verified Edition | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
1. A social worker is faced with an ethical dilemma involving a client's right to
confidentiality and a duty to protect a third party. According to the NASW Code of
Ethics, which principle should guide the social worker's decision?
A) Self-determination
B) Confidentiality
C) Protection of life
D) Informed consent
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The NASW Code of Ethics establishes a hierarchy of values. When there is a
conflict, protection of life supersedes confidentiality. In Tarasoff-like situations, the duty
to protect a third party takes precedence over confidentiality.
2. A school social worker is asked by a teacher to share information about a
student's family situation. Which action should the social worker take first?
A) Provide the information to support the student
B) Review the agency's confidentiality policy and release guidelines
C) Inform the teacher that all information is confidential
D) Ask the parent for written permission
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The social worker should review the agency's confidentiality policy and
release guidelines first. Ethical decisions must be informed by organizational policy, legal
requirements, and NASW standards.
3. A social worker has been practicing for 10 years and notices signs of burnout,
including increased irritability and difficulty concentrating. What is the most
appropriate action?
A) Continue working and ignore the symptoms
B) Request a leave of absence for self-care
,C) Seek supervision to address these issues
D) Take an extended vacation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The NASW Code of Ethics mandates that social workers maintain
professional competence and well-being. Seeking supervision to address these issues is
the best first step.
4. Which principle of the NASW Code of Ethics requires social workers to act in the
best interest of their clients?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Justice
D) Nonmaleficence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good and acting in the client's
best interest.
5. A social worker in private practice decides to terminate services with a client
who has not made progress after a year of treatment. What should the social
worker do?
A) Terminate services immediately
B) Provide a referral for services elsewhere
C) Continue treatment to avoid abandonment
D) Charge a reduced fee
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Social workers should terminate services when they are no longer benefiting
the client. However, they must ensure the client has a referral for continued care,
avoiding abandonment.
6. What is the most appropriate first step when a social worker faces an ethical
dilemma?
A) Consult the NASW Code of Ethics
B) Consult with a supervisor or ethics committee
,C) Use the ethical decision-making model
D) Consult the client's family
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The first step in resolving an ethical dilemma should be to consult the NASW
Code of Ethics. The Code provides the foundational values and standards to guide
decision-making.
7. A social worker receives a subpoena for a client's records. What is the most
appropriate action?
A) Turn over all records as requested
B) Refuse to comply with the subpoena
C) Seek legal advice and assert privilege where appropriate
D) Discuss the subpoena with the client's family
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When a subpoena is received, the social worker should seek legal advice and
assert privilege where appropriate. Social workers should protect client confidentiality to
the extent allowed by law.
8. The NASW Code of Ethics was first adopted in what year?
A) 1955
B) 1960
C) 1965
D) 1970
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The NASW Code of Ethics was first adopted in 1960.
9. The preamble to the NASW Code of Ethics states that the primary mission of the
social work profession is to:
A) Enhance human well-being and meet basic human needs
B) Provide therapy to individuals and families
C) Advocate for political change
D) Conduct research on social problems
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-
being and help meet the basic needs of all people, particularly the vulnerable,
oppressed, and impoverished.
10. A social worker who discovers evidence of fraud in their agency should first:
A) Report the fraud to the authorities immediately
B) Report the fraud internally to a supervisor
C) Ignore it to protect the agency
D) Discuss it with the clients involved
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Social workers have a duty to report unethical conduct. The first step is to
report the fraud internally to a supervisor or appropriate agency official.
11. Cultural competence includes:
A) Knowing the culture of every client
B) Understanding the role of culture in human behavior and social systems
C) Avoiding cultural differences
D) Only working with clients from the same culture
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural competence involves understanding the role of culture in shaping
human behavior and social systems. It also involves continuous self-reflection and
learning about other cultures.
12. What is the principle that social workers should respect clients' right to make
their own decisions?
A) Self-determination
B) Informed consent
C) Confidentiality
D) Nonmaleficence
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Self-determination is the principle of respecting clients' right to make their
own decisions about their lives.
