Introduction to Human Services Exam Questions and Answers Latest Update 2025
What are the Human Services? - Answers Broadly defined field, but a common objective of meeting
human needs through use of an interdisciplinary knowledge base to inform practice, focusing on
prevention, focusing on remediation of problems (identifying who is at risk) and maintaining a
commitment to improving the overall quality of life for the populations who are served, and the help
must be provided by a formal organization (e.g., clinic, hospital, school, agency, bureau)
How do we define human need? - Answers The definition has varied across time. The early narrow
definition was protecting from hazards of illness, disability and economic dependence, so they provided
very basic needs of food and housing. The broad definition of need is helping people achieve the highest
possible levels of self-sufficiency, so they provided job creation, maintaining clean, safe, and pleasant
environment.
The Dimensions of Development - Answers We need economic growth, government, and education for
basic survival, but money and government are not the the goal. They are a means to the end, the end
goal is human rights, culture, environment, and health. 80% of survival is due to economics. The
discrepancy in the discipline comes from the question of where should the human services be focused
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - Answers 1. Psychological needs: homeostasis, hunger, water, air shelter
and general survival (basics; money)
2. Safety needs: security stability freedom from anxiety and chaos, need for structure and order
(government comes in here)
3. Belongingness and Love needs: love, affection, belongingness, need for family and friends
4. Esteem needs: self-esteem, esteem of others, achievement, recognition, dignity
5. Need for Self-Actualization: ability to direct one's own life, a sense of meaning and fulfillment
Only 5%-10% meet self actualization
Criticism of Maslow's Model - Answers Not always accurate (e.g., people going hungry but exhibit strong
social ties and sense of self or a strong bond is formed during a period of struggle), deprivation of basic
physiological needs may sometimes facilitate satisfaction of higher needs (moderate levels of
deprivation stimulate creative potential, ward off boredom and enhance a sense of competence),
people can strive for more than one need simultaneously, and it's culturally biased
Primary Social Supports - Answers Family, friends, social groups, religious groups, and jobs. When those
social supports are not available or not sufficient then Human Service workers fill the position. Primary
social supports and HMSV programs have a reciprocal relationship
Iatrogenic Effects - Answers Unintended consequences of negative interventions
,HMSV and Iatrogenic Effects - Answers HMSV programs can have negative effects on primary social
supports.
Example: 80s welfare broke up families because dads were leaving so moms and kids could qualify for
welfare
Politics and Human Services - Answers Human services get the most funding when the least amount of
people need it and vice versa
Evidence Based Practice - Answers Only practice techniques whose efficacy is supported with high-
quality research. The practices need to be tested and approved to solve the problem
Why use EBP? - Answers It's not ethical to treat clients with low quality evidence such as consensus
(most people are using this), tradition, and anecdotal experience (I used this with one client so it'll work
with this one)
Controversies of EBP - Answers Standards necessary, types of studies (the rigor of studies), and should
they replace clinical experience
Benefits of EBP - Answers The maintenance of of professional knowledge, allows for high quality, cost
effective interventions in times of economic and budgetary constraint, justifies decision making to
clients and managers and regulation agencies, avoids variations in practice that may disadvantage some
clients over others, and involves clients actively in decision-making about their care and allows focused
systematic retrieval of information for client needs
Competence - Answers Human service workers should base practice on recognized knowledge, including
empirically based knowledge, relevant to human service work ethics
Integrity of the Profession - Answers Human service workers should contribute to the knowledge base of
human service work and share with colleagues their knowledge related to practice, research, and ethics.
Human service workers should seek to contribute to the profession's literature and to share their
knowledge at professional meetings and conferences
Evaluation and Research - Answers Human service workers should promote and facilitate evaluation and
research to contribute to the development and knowledge, critically examine and keep current with
emerging knowledge relevant to human service work and fully use evaluation and research evidence in
their professional practice, and educate themselves, their students, and their colleagues about
responsible research practice
Macro Human Service Work Practice - Answers All human service work practice that is conducted at the
organizational, community, national or international policy-making level
Three Components of Macro Human Service Work Practice - Answers 1. Human services administration
practice
2. Community-based practice
, 3. Policy practice
Human Services Administration Practice - Answers Administrative practice is the managing and leading
of an organization both internally and in its relationships with outside entities/stakeholder groups
Key Question for Human Services Administration Practice - Answers Whether research has been
conducted with results that can be applied to assist human service managers and executives do a better,
more effective job as they plan, budget, attain resources, interact with external stakeholders, work with
staff member and so on
Community-Based Practice - Answers Community practice is the organization, development, and
intervention in community settings to create environmental change
Key Question for Community-Based Practice - Answers Whether research has been done to assess
techniques that improve situations for residents of neighborhoods, communities, and cities or to prove
guidance to social workers involved in these efforts to be more effective in their efforts
Policy Practice - Answers Policy practice is policy analysis, advocacy, building coalitions, and launching a
campaign
Key Question for Policy Practice - Answers How well do human service workers know how to affect
policy at all stages of the process? What information that is solidly backed can help when human service
workers desire to make changes at the state, national, or international levels?
Arguments for Using EBP in Macro Human Service Work - Answers 1. All problems are complex--that is
no excuse to not find what actually works
2. An apparent shortage of evidence should propel us to search more widely for what already exists and
to create more evidence through research
3. Actions can be taken to improve the quantity and usability of information
4. Just because something is difficult to accomplish is not reason for not doing it, particularly if there are
important preseasons to do so
5. There is nothing inherent in the evidence-based model that precludes including the relationship
between practitioner and client, the readiness of the client to change, or any of the other current
limitations to research noted in this critique
6. The alleged dichotomy is false
More Benefits of EBP - Answers 1. Better use of time and other resources
2. Expands reach of strategies by building a knowledge base
3. Use of EBP responds to the NASW code of ethics ethical obligation of competence
What are the Human Services? - Answers Broadly defined field, but a common objective of meeting
human needs through use of an interdisciplinary knowledge base to inform practice, focusing on
prevention, focusing on remediation of problems (identifying who is at risk) and maintaining a
commitment to improving the overall quality of life for the populations who are served, and the help
must be provided by a formal organization (e.g., clinic, hospital, school, agency, bureau)
How do we define human need? - Answers The definition has varied across time. The early narrow
definition was protecting from hazards of illness, disability and economic dependence, so they provided
very basic needs of food and housing. The broad definition of need is helping people achieve the highest
possible levels of self-sufficiency, so they provided job creation, maintaining clean, safe, and pleasant
environment.
The Dimensions of Development - Answers We need economic growth, government, and education for
basic survival, but money and government are not the the goal. They are a means to the end, the end
goal is human rights, culture, environment, and health. 80% of survival is due to economics. The
discrepancy in the discipline comes from the question of where should the human services be focused
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - Answers 1. Psychological needs: homeostasis, hunger, water, air shelter
and general survival (basics; money)
2. Safety needs: security stability freedom from anxiety and chaos, need for structure and order
(government comes in here)
3. Belongingness and Love needs: love, affection, belongingness, need for family and friends
4. Esteem needs: self-esteem, esteem of others, achievement, recognition, dignity
5. Need for Self-Actualization: ability to direct one's own life, a sense of meaning and fulfillment
Only 5%-10% meet self actualization
Criticism of Maslow's Model - Answers Not always accurate (e.g., people going hungry but exhibit strong
social ties and sense of self or a strong bond is formed during a period of struggle), deprivation of basic
physiological needs may sometimes facilitate satisfaction of higher needs (moderate levels of
deprivation stimulate creative potential, ward off boredom and enhance a sense of competence),
people can strive for more than one need simultaneously, and it's culturally biased
Primary Social Supports - Answers Family, friends, social groups, religious groups, and jobs. When those
social supports are not available or not sufficient then Human Service workers fill the position. Primary
social supports and HMSV programs have a reciprocal relationship
Iatrogenic Effects - Answers Unintended consequences of negative interventions
,HMSV and Iatrogenic Effects - Answers HMSV programs can have negative effects on primary social
supports.
Example: 80s welfare broke up families because dads were leaving so moms and kids could qualify for
welfare
Politics and Human Services - Answers Human services get the most funding when the least amount of
people need it and vice versa
Evidence Based Practice - Answers Only practice techniques whose efficacy is supported with high-
quality research. The practices need to be tested and approved to solve the problem
Why use EBP? - Answers It's not ethical to treat clients with low quality evidence such as consensus
(most people are using this), tradition, and anecdotal experience (I used this with one client so it'll work
with this one)
Controversies of EBP - Answers Standards necessary, types of studies (the rigor of studies), and should
they replace clinical experience
Benefits of EBP - Answers The maintenance of of professional knowledge, allows for high quality, cost
effective interventions in times of economic and budgetary constraint, justifies decision making to
clients and managers and regulation agencies, avoids variations in practice that may disadvantage some
clients over others, and involves clients actively in decision-making about their care and allows focused
systematic retrieval of information for client needs
Competence - Answers Human service workers should base practice on recognized knowledge, including
empirically based knowledge, relevant to human service work ethics
Integrity of the Profession - Answers Human service workers should contribute to the knowledge base of
human service work and share with colleagues their knowledge related to practice, research, and ethics.
Human service workers should seek to contribute to the profession's literature and to share their
knowledge at professional meetings and conferences
Evaluation and Research - Answers Human service workers should promote and facilitate evaluation and
research to contribute to the development and knowledge, critically examine and keep current with
emerging knowledge relevant to human service work and fully use evaluation and research evidence in
their professional practice, and educate themselves, their students, and their colleagues about
responsible research practice
Macro Human Service Work Practice - Answers All human service work practice that is conducted at the
organizational, community, national or international policy-making level
Three Components of Macro Human Service Work Practice - Answers 1. Human services administration
practice
2. Community-based practice
, 3. Policy practice
Human Services Administration Practice - Answers Administrative practice is the managing and leading
of an organization both internally and in its relationships with outside entities/stakeholder groups
Key Question for Human Services Administration Practice - Answers Whether research has been
conducted with results that can be applied to assist human service managers and executives do a better,
more effective job as they plan, budget, attain resources, interact with external stakeholders, work with
staff member and so on
Community-Based Practice - Answers Community practice is the organization, development, and
intervention in community settings to create environmental change
Key Question for Community-Based Practice - Answers Whether research has been done to assess
techniques that improve situations for residents of neighborhoods, communities, and cities or to prove
guidance to social workers involved in these efforts to be more effective in their efforts
Policy Practice - Answers Policy practice is policy analysis, advocacy, building coalitions, and launching a
campaign
Key Question for Policy Practice - Answers How well do human service workers know how to affect
policy at all stages of the process? What information that is solidly backed can help when human service
workers desire to make changes at the state, national, or international levels?
Arguments for Using EBP in Macro Human Service Work - Answers 1. All problems are complex--that is
no excuse to not find what actually works
2. An apparent shortage of evidence should propel us to search more widely for what already exists and
to create more evidence through research
3. Actions can be taken to improve the quantity and usability of information
4. Just because something is difficult to accomplish is not reason for not doing it, particularly if there are
important preseasons to do so
5. There is nothing inherent in the evidence-based model that precludes including the relationship
between practitioner and client, the readiness of the client to change, or any of the other current
limitations to research noted in this critique
6. The alleged dichotomy is false
More Benefits of EBP - Answers 1. Better use of time and other resources
2. Expands reach of strategies by building a knowledge base
3. Use of EBP responds to the NASW code of ethics ethical obligation of competence
