ASWB Social Work Practice Exam Questions and Correct Answers
The research design most often used by social workers to improve their practice is:
a. experimental design
b. single-subject design
c. longitudinal design
d. quasi-experimental design - Answer-b. single subject design
A 26 yr/old female client shares with her male social worker that she is becoming attached to him and
often has sexual fantasies about him. She also shares that she would like to see him socially. What
should be the social worker's first responsibility?
a. discuss the client's feelings about her sexual fantasies
b. immediatly refer the client to a female social worker
c. clarify the professional nature of the social worker-client relationship
d. discuss the client's pas relationships. - Answer-c. clarify the professional nature of the social worker-
client relationship.
The primary purpose of a service plan is to
a. establish goals
b. assess the home situation
c. monitor behavioral changes
d. evaluate client progress - Answer-a. establish goals
In treating a client in crisis, the caseworker should focus on...
a. the immediate presenting problem
b. a few specific problems in day-to-day functioning
c. a wide range of problems in day to day functioning
,d. underlying personality problems - Answer-a. the immediate presenting problem
When faced by a hostile client in an agency setting, it is best for the social worker to
a. suggest that the client's attitude is making the situation worse
b. accept the client's hostility and talk about non-threatening topics
c. set limits and structure on the interview session
d. acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them - Answer-d. acknowledge the
client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
You are a social worker in an outpatient setting. A new client arrives for her first session with you. The
client has noticeable hair loss and tells you that she is very tense and is having problems in her
relationship with her boyfriend. Your first diagnosis would likely be
A. Borderline personality disorder
B. generalized anxiety disorder
C. Schizophrenia
D. Trichotillomania - Answer-D. Trichotillomania
A social worker who attempts to impose their judgement on clients is most likely to elicit the client's
a. acquiescence
b. cooperation
c. resistance
d. appreciation - Answer-c. resistance
Establishing rapport with a client is essential in the initial stages of counseling. All of the following
techniques are effective except
a. moderate levels of self-disclosure
b. admitting your mistakes
,c. sharing personal experience
d. responding to a client's nonverbal messages - Answer-c. sharing personal experience
A social worker meets with a refugee couple in the hospital soon after the birth of their baby. The infant
has Down syndrome and cardiac problems. The couple asks that the child be allowed to die. The social
worker should first:
a. report the case ot child protection services becuause of the at-risk nature of the situation
b. offer the parents the option of relinquishing the child for adoption
c. encourage the parents to meet with other parents of Down syndrome children
d. perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors. - Answer-d.
perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors
The youngest child of a single parent is hospitalized for the second time in four months because of lead
poisoning. The child is now ready for discharge, but the doctor refuses to go ahead with the release,
citing an unsafe home environment. When interviewed by the hospital social worker, the parent says
that the landlord will no have their apartment repainted or make other necessary repairs. The parent
wants to move, but is unable to afford living arrangements that will also allow four children. After
reporting the situation to child welfare authorities, the social worker should
a. advise the parent to withhold rent until repair work is done.
b. advocate for the child to return home with the parent
c. refer the parent to a resource that can help locate suitable housing
d. report the landlord's lack of cooperation to the housing authority - Answer-c. refer the parent to a
resource that can help locate suitable housing
A client who has received services for several years in a dialysis unit appears for a routine visit. The
nurse notices a markedly changed affect and refers the client to to the social worker. When seeing the
social worker, the client seems detached, self-absorbed, and tearful. The social worker should first
assess the client's
a. life situation and recent changes
b. compliance with medical care
, c. concerns about dying
d. feelings about dialysis - Answer-a. life situation and recent changes
A widower requests help from a social service agency for himself and his two young children. The man
explains that his wife died three weeks ago and that he now needs childcare services for his children so
that he can return to work. He is obviously in a state of grief and shock over the loss of his wife. The
presenting problem in this situation is.
a. the recent death of his wife
b. the absence of supporting relatives
c. the need for childcare services
d. the need for employment - Answer-c. the need for childcare services
A social worker employed at a residential youth services agency learns that a fellow employee has
multiple convictions for sexual molestation of young children. The agency is unaware of his history.
Sexual offenses automatically disqualify applicants for employment in the agency. The social worker's
professional and ethical obligation is met by:
a. saying and doing nothing
b. urging the employee to reveal his history to management
c. immediately notifying the responsible agency supervisor of the situation
d. notifying the man's probation officer - Answer-c. immediately notifying the responsible agency
supervisor of the situation.
During Mrs. S's first appointment in a family agency, the social worker encourages her to express her
feelings about the recent placement of her child in a residential facility for the developmentally
disabled. Mrs. S talks at length about her physcial health problems. The social worker should,
a. use Mrs. S's remarks about her health to identify unresolved parenting issues
b. refocus the interview on the child's behavior and the reason for the residential placement
c. explore with Mrs. S how her health problems are related to the recent placement of her child.
The research design most often used by social workers to improve their practice is:
a. experimental design
b. single-subject design
c. longitudinal design
d. quasi-experimental design - Answer-b. single subject design
A 26 yr/old female client shares with her male social worker that she is becoming attached to him and
often has sexual fantasies about him. She also shares that she would like to see him socially. What
should be the social worker's first responsibility?
a. discuss the client's feelings about her sexual fantasies
b. immediatly refer the client to a female social worker
c. clarify the professional nature of the social worker-client relationship
d. discuss the client's pas relationships. - Answer-c. clarify the professional nature of the social worker-
client relationship.
The primary purpose of a service plan is to
a. establish goals
b. assess the home situation
c. monitor behavioral changes
d. evaluate client progress - Answer-a. establish goals
In treating a client in crisis, the caseworker should focus on...
a. the immediate presenting problem
b. a few specific problems in day-to-day functioning
c. a wide range of problems in day to day functioning
,d. underlying personality problems - Answer-a. the immediate presenting problem
When faced by a hostile client in an agency setting, it is best for the social worker to
a. suggest that the client's attitude is making the situation worse
b. accept the client's hostility and talk about non-threatening topics
c. set limits and structure on the interview session
d. acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them - Answer-d. acknowledge the
client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
You are a social worker in an outpatient setting. A new client arrives for her first session with you. The
client has noticeable hair loss and tells you that she is very tense and is having problems in her
relationship with her boyfriend. Your first diagnosis would likely be
A. Borderline personality disorder
B. generalized anxiety disorder
C. Schizophrenia
D. Trichotillomania - Answer-D. Trichotillomania
A social worker who attempts to impose their judgement on clients is most likely to elicit the client's
a. acquiescence
b. cooperation
c. resistance
d. appreciation - Answer-c. resistance
Establishing rapport with a client is essential in the initial stages of counseling. All of the following
techniques are effective except
a. moderate levels of self-disclosure
b. admitting your mistakes
,c. sharing personal experience
d. responding to a client's nonverbal messages - Answer-c. sharing personal experience
A social worker meets with a refugee couple in the hospital soon after the birth of their baby. The infant
has Down syndrome and cardiac problems. The couple asks that the child be allowed to die. The social
worker should first:
a. report the case ot child protection services becuause of the at-risk nature of the situation
b. offer the parents the option of relinquishing the child for adoption
c. encourage the parents to meet with other parents of Down syndrome children
d. perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors. - Answer-d.
perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors
The youngest child of a single parent is hospitalized for the second time in four months because of lead
poisoning. The child is now ready for discharge, but the doctor refuses to go ahead with the release,
citing an unsafe home environment. When interviewed by the hospital social worker, the parent says
that the landlord will no have their apartment repainted or make other necessary repairs. The parent
wants to move, but is unable to afford living arrangements that will also allow four children. After
reporting the situation to child welfare authorities, the social worker should
a. advise the parent to withhold rent until repair work is done.
b. advocate for the child to return home with the parent
c. refer the parent to a resource that can help locate suitable housing
d. report the landlord's lack of cooperation to the housing authority - Answer-c. refer the parent to a
resource that can help locate suitable housing
A client who has received services for several years in a dialysis unit appears for a routine visit. The
nurse notices a markedly changed affect and refers the client to to the social worker. When seeing the
social worker, the client seems detached, self-absorbed, and tearful. The social worker should first
assess the client's
a. life situation and recent changes
b. compliance with medical care
, c. concerns about dying
d. feelings about dialysis - Answer-a. life situation and recent changes
A widower requests help from a social service agency for himself and his two young children. The man
explains that his wife died three weeks ago and that he now needs childcare services for his children so
that he can return to work. He is obviously in a state of grief and shock over the loss of his wife. The
presenting problem in this situation is.
a. the recent death of his wife
b. the absence of supporting relatives
c. the need for childcare services
d. the need for employment - Answer-c. the need for childcare services
A social worker employed at a residential youth services agency learns that a fellow employee has
multiple convictions for sexual molestation of young children. The agency is unaware of his history.
Sexual offenses automatically disqualify applicants for employment in the agency. The social worker's
professional and ethical obligation is met by:
a. saying and doing nothing
b. urging the employee to reveal his history to management
c. immediately notifying the responsible agency supervisor of the situation
d. notifying the man's probation officer - Answer-c. immediately notifying the responsible agency
supervisor of the situation.
During Mrs. S's first appointment in a family agency, the social worker encourages her to express her
feelings about the recent placement of her child in a residential facility for the developmentally
disabled. Mrs. S talks at length about her physcial health problems. The social worker should,
a. use Mrs. S's remarks about her health to identify unresolved parenting issues
b. refocus the interview on the child's behavior and the reason for the residential placement
c. explore with Mrs. S how her health problems are related to the recent placement of her child.
