ASWB COMPLETE EXAM UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. Which of the following is NOT true about motivation to change? A. Motivation fluctuates from one time to
another. B. Motivation can be increased by working to remove barriers to change. C. Motivation is driven by
hope or the belief that life can be different. D. Motivation that is imposed by external forces is more salient
than that which is intrinsic.
Answer:
D Motivation is a state of readiness or eagerness to change, which fluctuates from one time to another. The role
of the social worker is to create an atmosphere that is conducive to change and to increase a client's intrinsic
motivation, so that change arises from within rather than being imposed from without. If a client is driven to
change internally, it is much more likely that the change effort will be sustained. A technique to increase
motivation is to work to remove barriers and instill hope or the belief that life can be different.
Question:
2. Evidence-based social work practice can BEST be defined as: A. Interventions that a social worker has
gained training and experience in delivering B. Treatment that yields the most cost-effective outcomes
according to a cost-benefit analysis C. Decision making based on the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use
of research knowledge, clinical expertise, social work values, and client wishes D. Practice evaluations that
adhere to scientific principles
Answer:
C Evidence-based practice (EBP) combines well-researched interventions with clinical experience and ethics,
as well as client preferences and culture, to guide and inform the delivery of treatments and services. Social
workers, clients, and others must work together in order to identify what works, for whom, and under what
conditions. This approach ensures that the treatments and services, when used as intended, will have the most
effective outcomes as demonstrated by the research.
Question:
3. What are the stages of change in sequential order? A. Precontemplation, preparation, con- templation, action,
maintenance, and relapse B. Preparation, action, precontemplation, contemplation, maintenance, and relapse C.
Preparation, precontemplation, contemplation, action, maintenance, and relapse D. Precontemplation,
contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse
Answer:
D Precontemplation is denial or ignorance of the problem. It is followed by contemplation in which there is
ambivalence about making change. Then comes preparation or experimenting with small changes. Action
moves toward achieving a goal, whereas maintenance sustains a new behavior and avoids relapse, which can
lead to feelings of frustration and failure.
Question:
4. Which of the following is NOT an essential step in ethical problem solving? A. Identifying the ethical
standards that may be compromised B. Determining whether there is an ethical dilemma C. Weighing ethical
issues in light of social work values and principles D. Asking a supervisor to monitor practice to identify new
ethical issues or dilemmas
Answer:
D A social worker, not his or her supervisor, should monitor practice to identify whether new issues or
dilemmas arise.
,Question:
5. A young boy is stopped by a police officer and claims that he is a member of the armed forces, though it is
obvious that he is not. This assertion by the boy is MOST likely a: A. Comorbid thought B. Dissociation C.
Folie à deux D. Delusion
Answer:
D A delusion is a false, fixed belief despite evidence to the contrary (i.e., believing something that is not true).
Comorbid means existing at the same time. Dissociation is a change in memory, perception, or consciousness.
Folie à deux is a shared delusion.
Question:
6. A social work administrator is having trouble finding a group home manager for a new program scheduled to
open in 2 weeks. Further delays in locating staff will delay clients from moving into the program. The
administrator temporarily hires her niece, who just graduated with a social work degree, for this position. This
action is: A. Ethical because the niece is clearly qualified for the position B. Unethical because this is a conflict
of interest C. Ethical because the position is temporary and ensures clients get the services needed D. Unethical
because clients will experience staff turnover when a new manager is hired
Answer:
B Social workers should avoid situations interfering with impartial judgment. Hiring a family member creates a
dual relationship and should be avoided.
Question:
7. A social worker is interested in seeing the extent to which current clients are satisfied with a new relapse
prevention program. The social worker distributes a client satisfaction survey to those in the program. The
social worker then collects the surveys and analyzes the results that are presented to a management team in the
agency. The so- cial worker is conducting which type of evaluation? A. Summative B. Experimental C.
Quasi-experimental D. Formative
Answer:
D Formative evaluations examine the process of delivering services, whereas summative evaluations examine
the outcomes. Formative evaluations are ongoing processes that allow for feedback to be implemented during
service delivery. These types of evaluations allow social workers to make changes as needed to help achieve
program goals. Summative evaluations occur at the end of services and provide an overall description of their
effectiveness. Summative evaluation examines outcomes to determine whether objectives were met. The design
described is not experimental—which requires a control group and randomization of assignment—or
quasi-experimental, which does not require randomization, but has more support for causal inferences than
does preexperimental designs.
Question:
8. Which of the following is an example of social stratification? A. A child is not included in group activities in
school because of his or her poor social skills. B. Children who are violent need to be segregated from their
peers. C. A child with social deficits is assumed to be delayed in cognition without additional assessment. D.
Children from affluent households receive a better public education than those from low-income households.
Answer:
D Stratification refers to structured inequality of entire categories of people in society who have unequal access
to social rewards. Stratification applies to individuals based on ethnic and racial background, social status,
and/or other factors.
, Question:
9. During an intake interview, a client reports that she is extremely depressed and has self-destructive thoughts.
She has had prior suicide attempts, but tells the social worker not to worry as she won't "do it again." The
social worker should FIRST: A. Tell the client that her decision not to harm herself is a good one B. Explore
with the client what is causing her depression C. Conduct a safety assessment D. Refer the client to a
psychiatrist for a medication evaluation
Answer:
C Despite the client's report that she will not act on her thoughts, she is at risk because she has had these
feelings and has acted on them in the past. The case vignette does not describe the social worker taking any
action yet. A safety assessment will determine the severity of the depression and whether the client is at risk for
a suicide attempt. It must be done FIRST before any other action is taken.
Question:
10. A client with a Social Anxiety Disorder will MOST likely be prescribed which of the following
medications to take on an ongoing basis? A. Zoloft (sertraline) B. Mellaril (thioridazine) C. Thorazine
(chlorpromazine) D. Valium (diazepam)
Answer:
A The primary medications used to treat social anxiety disorder are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs), which were first developed to treat depression. They have been found to be effective in the treatment
of a wider range of disorders. Zoloft (sertraline) is an SSRI. Benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam),
reduce levels of anxiety. However, they are habit-forming and sedating, so they are typically prescribed for
only short-term use. Mellaril (thioridazine) and Thorazine (chlorpromazine) are antipsychotic medications for
the treatment of psychosis.
Question:
11. A social worker is appointed by the court to conduct a child custody evaluation for a couple that is
divorcing. The mother reports that her husband is verbally abusive, controlling, and neglects the children when
they are in his care. She reports that the children have missed a lot of school when staying with their father
because he does not assist with getting them ready for school or doing their homework. The father states that
his wife is lazy, irresponsible, and cannot meet the children's basic needs. He reports that the school frequently
has to provide lunch for the children because the mother does not supply it when they are in her care. In order
to BEST evaluate the legitimacy of the information, the social worker should: A. Ask the husband and wife to
put their allegations in writing and sign them, attesting to their accuracy B. Determine whether the husband or
wife have had any past instances with being untruthful C. Always speak to the husband and wife together so
that they are more likely to be honest D. Obtain information from school personnel and records after obtaining
parental consent
Answer:
D Collateral information is often used when the credibility and validity of information obtained from a client or
others is questionable. For example, child custody cases are inherently characterized by biased data within an
adversarial process. Social workers should use data from neutral parties, such as the school, because this
information has higher integrity.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. Which of the following is NOT true about motivation to change? A. Motivation fluctuates from one time to
another. B. Motivation can be increased by working to remove barriers to change. C. Motivation is driven by
hope or the belief that life can be different. D. Motivation that is imposed by external forces is more salient
than that which is intrinsic.
Answer:
D Motivation is a state of readiness or eagerness to change, which fluctuates from one time to another. The role
of the social worker is to create an atmosphere that is conducive to change and to increase a client's intrinsic
motivation, so that change arises from within rather than being imposed from without. If a client is driven to
change internally, it is much more likely that the change effort will be sustained. A technique to increase
motivation is to work to remove barriers and instill hope or the belief that life can be different.
Question:
2. Evidence-based social work practice can BEST be defined as: A. Interventions that a social worker has
gained training and experience in delivering B. Treatment that yields the most cost-effective outcomes
according to a cost-benefit analysis C. Decision making based on the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use
of research knowledge, clinical expertise, social work values, and client wishes D. Practice evaluations that
adhere to scientific principles
Answer:
C Evidence-based practice (EBP) combines well-researched interventions with clinical experience and ethics,
as well as client preferences and culture, to guide and inform the delivery of treatments and services. Social
workers, clients, and others must work together in order to identify what works, for whom, and under what
conditions. This approach ensures that the treatments and services, when used as intended, will have the most
effective outcomes as demonstrated by the research.
Question:
3. What are the stages of change in sequential order? A. Precontemplation, preparation, con- templation, action,
maintenance, and relapse B. Preparation, action, precontemplation, contemplation, maintenance, and relapse C.
Preparation, precontemplation, contemplation, action, maintenance, and relapse D. Precontemplation,
contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse
Answer:
D Precontemplation is denial or ignorance of the problem. It is followed by contemplation in which there is
ambivalence about making change. Then comes preparation or experimenting with small changes. Action
moves toward achieving a goal, whereas maintenance sustains a new behavior and avoids relapse, which can
lead to feelings of frustration and failure.
Question:
4. Which of the following is NOT an essential step in ethical problem solving? A. Identifying the ethical
standards that may be compromised B. Determining whether there is an ethical dilemma C. Weighing ethical
issues in light of social work values and principles D. Asking a supervisor to monitor practice to identify new
ethical issues or dilemmas
Answer:
D A social worker, not his or her supervisor, should monitor practice to identify whether new issues or
dilemmas arise.
,Question:
5. A young boy is stopped by a police officer and claims that he is a member of the armed forces, though it is
obvious that he is not. This assertion by the boy is MOST likely a: A. Comorbid thought B. Dissociation C.
Folie à deux D. Delusion
Answer:
D A delusion is a false, fixed belief despite evidence to the contrary (i.e., believing something that is not true).
Comorbid means existing at the same time. Dissociation is a change in memory, perception, or consciousness.
Folie à deux is a shared delusion.
Question:
6. A social work administrator is having trouble finding a group home manager for a new program scheduled to
open in 2 weeks. Further delays in locating staff will delay clients from moving into the program. The
administrator temporarily hires her niece, who just graduated with a social work degree, for this position. This
action is: A. Ethical because the niece is clearly qualified for the position B. Unethical because this is a conflict
of interest C. Ethical because the position is temporary and ensures clients get the services needed D. Unethical
because clients will experience staff turnover when a new manager is hired
Answer:
B Social workers should avoid situations interfering with impartial judgment. Hiring a family member creates a
dual relationship and should be avoided.
Question:
7. A social worker is interested in seeing the extent to which current clients are satisfied with a new relapse
prevention program. The social worker distributes a client satisfaction survey to those in the program. The
social worker then collects the surveys and analyzes the results that are presented to a management team in the
agency. The so- cial worker is conducting which type of evaluation? A. Summative B. Experimental C.
Quasi-experimental D. Formative
Answer:
D Formative evaluations examine the process of delivering services, whereas summative evaluations examine
the outcomes. Formative evaluations are ongoing processes that allow for feedback to be implemented during
service delivery. These types of evaluations allow social workers to make changes as needed to help achieve
program goals. Summative evaluations occur at the end of services and provide an overall description of their
effectiveness. Summative evaluation examines outcomes to determine whether objectives were met. The design
described is not experimental—which requires a control group and randomization of assignment—or
quasi-experimental, which does not require randomization, but has more support for causal inferences than
does preexperimental designs.
Question:
8. Which of the following is an example of social stratification? A. A child is not included in group activities in
school because of his or her poor social skills. B. Children who are violent need to be segregated from their
peers. C. A child with social deficits is assumed to be delayed in cognition without additional assessment. D.
Children from affluent households receive a better public education than those from low-income households.
Answer:
D Stratification refers to structured inequality of entire categories of people in society who have unequal access
to social rewards. Stratification applies to individuals based on ethnic and racial background, social status,
and/or other factors.
, Question:
9. During an intake interview, a client reports that she is extremely depressed and has self-destructive thoughts.
She has had prior suicide attempts, but tells the social worker not to worry as she won't "do it again." The
social worker should FIRST: A. Tell the client that her decision not to harm herself is a good one B. Explore
with the client what is causing her depression C. Conduct a safety assessment D. Refer the client to a
psychiatrist for a medication evaluation
Answer:
C Despite the client's report that she will not act on her thoughts, she is at risk because she has had these
feelings and has acted on them in the past. The case vignette does not describe the social worker taking any
action yet. A safety assessment will determine the severity of the depression and whether the client is at risk for
a suicide attempt. It must be done FIRST before any other action is taken.
Question:
10. A client with a Social Anxiety Disorder will MOST likely be prescribed which of the following
medications to take on an ongoing basis? A. Zoloft (sertraline) B. Mellaril (thioridazine) C. Thorazine
(chlorpromazine) D. Valium (diazepam)
Answer:
A The primary medications used to treat social anxiety disorder are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs), which were first developed to treat depression. They have been found to be effective in the treatment
of a wider range of disorders. Zoloft (sertraline) is an SSRI. Benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam),
reduce levels of anxiety. However, they are habit-forming and sedating, so they are typically prescribed for
only short-term use. Mellaril (thioridazine) and Thorazine (chlorpromazine) are antipsychotic medications for
the treatment of psychosis.
Question:
11. A social worker is appointed by the court to conduct a child custody evaluation for a couple that is
divorcing. The mother reports that her husband is verbally abusive, controlling, and neglects the children when
they are in his care. She reports that the children have missed a lot of school when staying with their father
because he does not assist with getting them ready for school or doing their homework. The father states that
his wife is lazy, irresponsible, and cannot meet the children's basic needs. He reports that the school frequently
has to provide lunch for the children because the mother does not supply it when they are in her care. In order
to BEST evaluate the legitimacy of the information, the social worker should: A. Ask the husband and wife to
put their allegations in writing and sign them, attesting to their accuracy B. Determine whether the husband or
wife have had any past instances with being untruthful C. Always speak to the husband and wife together so
that they are more likely to be honest D. Obtain information from school personnel and records after obtaining
parental consent
Answer:
D Collateral information is often used when the credibility and validity of information obtained from a client or
others is questionable. For example, child custody cases are inherently characterized by biased data within an
adversarial process. Social workers should use data from neutral parties, such as the school, because this
information has higher integrity.
