ASWB SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
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.
d. listen to Mrs. S's description of her health as a beginning of a relationship and means
of assessing her self-perception. - Answer -d. listen to Mrs. S's description of her health
as a beginning of a relationship and means of assessing her self-perception.
A social worker is interviewing a new patient who presents with some symptoms of
depression. The patient reports recent changes such as diminished functioning, marked
weight gain, early morning awakening, fatigue, inability to concentrate, and headaches.
The patient mentions that he started a new medication for a medical condition three
weeks ago. The worker would first.
a. arrange a psychiatric consultation in order to have an anti-depressant prescribed
b. ascertain the prescribed medication and investigate its side-effects
, c. proceed with a thorough psychosocial history and precipitating events
d. hospitalize the patient - Answer -b. ascertain the prescribed medication and
investigate its side-effects
The policy of Permanency Planning refers to
a. children who are at risk of removal or are removed from their own homes
b. the development of a plan through which abused and neglected children will be
assured of a stable family situation throughout childhood
c. a stable foster care plan for children removed from their homes
d. the use of adoption for children at risk - Answer -b. the development of a plan
through which abused and neglected children will be assured of a stable family situation
throughout childhood
An adolescent has been referred to a social worker because of school-related
difficulties. During the intake interview with the family, the parents become angry and
begin verbally attacking the teen. The social worker's most appropriate action is to
a. allow the parents to continue to vent their anger
b. stop the interview and see the teen alone
c. focus on the parent's expression of anger
d. ask the teen to leave the room. - Answer -c. focus on the parent's expression of
anger
In preparing for an interview with a client who is receiving ongoing services, the MOST
important thing for the social worker to do is to:
a. clearly identifying the purpose of the upcoming interview
b. review previous case notes in the client's folder
c. determine if there are new agency policies that pply to this client
d. mentally review progress the client that has made toward goal attainment - Answer -
a. clearly identify the purpose of the upcoming interview
A hospital patient is referred to social services after she complains of insufficient money
for food. After talking with the patient, the worker's diagnosis is that the patient, although
from a low income family, is not indigent. She seems to constantly have difficulties
managing money and does not appear to handle her funds appropriately. Her diet
appears nutritionally adequate. The worker's most appropriate action would be to:
a. help the patient obtain assistance from a casework agency for help with money
management
b. provide continuing casework treatment though the hospital social services
department to insure that her diet remains adequate
c. suggest to the patient that she apply to the public welfare agency to determine
eligibility for public assistance
d. reassure the patient that her income can be made to cover her essential needs -
Answer -a. help the patient obtain assistance from a casework agency for help with
money management.
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.
d. listen to Mrs. S's description of her health as a beginning of a relationship and means
of assessing her self-perception. - Answer -d. listen to Mrs. S's description of her health
as a beginning of a relationship and means of assessing her self-perception.
A social worker is interviewing a new patient who presents with some symptoms of
depression. The patient reports recent changes such as diminished functioning, marked
weight gain, early morning awakening, fatigue, inability to concentrate, and headaches.
The patient mentions that he started a new medication for a medical condition three
weeks ago. The worker would first.
a. arrange a psychiatric consultation in order to have an anti-depressant prescribed
b. ascertain the prescribed medication and investigate its side-effects
, c. proceed with a thorough psychosocial history and precipitating events
d. hospitalize the patient - Answer -b. ascertain the prescribed medication and
investigate its side-effects
The policy of Permanency Planning refers to
a. children who are at risk of removal or are removed from their own homes
b. the development of a plan through which abused and neglected children will be
assured of a stable family situation throughout childhood
c. a stable foster care plan for children removed from their homes
d. the use of adoption for children at risk - Answer -b. the development of a plan
through which abused and neglected children will be assured of a stable family situation
throughout childhood
An adolescent has been referred to a social worker because of school-related
difficulties. During the intake interview with the family, the parents become angry and
begin verbally attacking the teen. The social worker's most appropriate action is to
a. allow the parents to continue to vent their anger
b. stop the interview and see the teen alone
c. focus on the parent's expression of anger
d. ask the teen to leave the room. - Answer -c. focus on the parent's expression of
anger
In preparing for an interview with a client who is receiving ongoing services, the MOST
important thing for the social worker to do is to:
a. clearly identifying the purpose of the upcoming interview
b. review previous case notes in the client's folder
c. determine if there are new agency policies that pply to this client
d. mentally review progress the client that has made toward goal attainment - Answer -
a. clearly identify the purpose of the upcoming interview
A hospital patient is referred to social services after she complains of insufficient money
for food. After talking with the patient, the worker's diagnosis is that the patient, although
from a low income family, is not indigent. She seems to constantly have difficulties
managing money and does not appear to handle her funds appropriately. Her diet
appears nutritionally adequate. The worker's most appropriate action would be to:
a. help the patient obtain assistance from a casework agency for help with money
management
b. provide continuing casework treatment though the hospital social services
department to insure that her diet remains adequate
c. suggest to the patient that she apply to the public welfare agency to determine
eligibility for public assistance
d. reassure the patient that her income can be made to cover her essential needs -
Answer -a. help the patient obtain assistance from a casework agency for help with
money management.
