ASWB COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM
STUDY BUNDLE | HUMAN BEHAVIOR, ETHICS,
ASSESSMENT & INTERVENTION
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. - correct answers ✔✔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.
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. - correct answers ✔✔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
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. - correct answers ✔✔3. What are the stages of change in
sequential order?
A. Precontemplation, preparation, contemplation, 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
D
A social worker, not his or her supervisor, should monitor practice to identify whether
new issues or dilemmas arise. - correct answers ✔✔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
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. -
correct answers ✔✔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
B
Social workers should avoid situations interfering with impartial judgment. Hiring a
family member creates a dual relationship and should be avoided. - correct answers
✔✔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
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. - correct answers ✔✔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 social worker is conducting which type of evaluation?
A. Summative
B. Experimental
C. Quasi-experimental
D. Formative
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. - correct answers
✔✔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.
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. - correct answers ✔✔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
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. - correct answers ✔✔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)
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. - correct answers ✔✔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
STUDY BUNDLE | HUMAN BEHAVIOR, ETHICS,
ASSESSMENT & INTERVENTION
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. - correct answers ✔✔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.
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. - correct answers ✔✔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
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. - correct answers ✔✔3. What are the stages of change in
sequential order?
A. Precontemplation, preparation, contemplation, 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
D
A social worker, not his or her supervisor, should monitor practice to identify whether
new issues or dilemmas arise. - correct answers ✔✔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
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. -
correct answers ✔✔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
B
Social workers should avoid situations interfering with impartial judgment. Hiring a
family member creates a dual relationship and should be avoided. - correct answers
✔✔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
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. - correct answers ✔✔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 social worker is conducting which type of evaluation?
A. Summative
B. Experimental
C. Quasi-experimental
D. Formative
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. - correct answers
✔✔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.
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. - correct answers ✔✔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
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. - correct answers ✔✔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)
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. - correct answers ✔✔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
