ASWB MSW Exam Questions

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81.

Debbie just finished a meeting with a client, in which they discussed how he could meditate to help alleviate his anxiety. She is meticulous about her record-keeping, so what will she do after her appointment?

  • Record the client's goal of practicing meditation to reduce his anxiety

  • Note the client's strengths and areas in which he needs to improve

  • Prepare for her next appointment with another client

Correct answer: Record the client's goal of practicing meditation to reduce his anxiety

This will help the social worker remember what was accomplished in the session, so she can continue with the treatment plan at their next session.

The social worker may note the client's strengths and areas in which he needs to improve, but the question clearly mentions the client's goal of practicing meditation. The other option is incorrect because the question states that the social worker is meticulous about her record-keeping; therefore, she will most likely make notes of what transpired during her previous session.

82.

When can social workers limit the right of a client to self-determination?

  • When the client's actions pose a serious, forseeable, and imminent risk

  • Never under any circumstances

  • After consulting with the client's attorney

  • After consultation with local law enforcement

Correct answer: When the client's actions pose a serious, forseeable, and imminent risk

Only in the direst circumstances, that is, when the client's actions pose a serious, forseeable, and imminent risk to themselves or others, is it ever warranted for a social worker to use their authority to limit the client's right to self-determination.

It is sometimes necessary to limit the rights of clients, as in the above explanation. Though consultation with a client's attorney may be relevant, the client is still operating under their own authority unless legally determined not to be competent. Consulting local law enforcement may be necessary according to the case, but will likely not impact the ability of a client to make their own decisions unless that client is actually incarcerated.

83.

With whom did conflict theories originate?

  • Karl Marx

  • Niccolo Machiavelli

  • Thomas Malthus

Correct answer: Karl Marx

Karl Marx theorized that conflict is inevitable and continual, and is caused by inequality that results from social class differences. He was concerned with exploitation of workers by capitalist economic systems. From there, several other conflict theories were developed based on Marx's original teachings, by what are called "neo-Marxists."

Niccolo Machiavelli was an originator of modern political theory. Thomas Malthus developed the population growth theory.

84.

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of their services that social workers should inform their clients about in the context of informed consent?

  • Outcomes of services for other clients

  • The purpose of the services

  • Any risks related to the services

  • Limits to services because of third-party requirements

Correct answer: Outcomes of services for other clients

Informed consent allows the social worker to provide services to clients based on the principle that clients should have the most possible knowledge about the terms of the services. The outcomes of services for other clients may not be relevant to the current case, and revealing them may violate confidentiality.

Clients have a right to know, among other things, the purpose of the services, any risks related to the services, and limits to the services imposed by any third party (such as an insurance provider). All of these items and others fall under the social work principle of self-determination as reflected in the practice of informed consent.

85.

You're working with a client who comes to treatment for trauma-related symptoms at the prompting of his spouse. The client seems to have little motivation to change, and is in your office simply because he did not want to upset his wife.

What would be the BEST thing you could do to enhance this client's motivation to make changes?

  • Ask the client to think about what life would look like without trauma symptoms

  • Lecture the client about the risks of untreated PTSD

  • Inform the client that his wife may leave him if he doesn't change

  • Devise a punishment to be given to the client if he doesn't agree to make changes

Correct answer: Ask the client to think about what life would look like without trauma symptoms

Social workers should create environments that are conducive to positive changes. Asking the client to think about what life would look like without trauma symptoms is the most helpful option here. Thinking about how life could be different could increase the client's intrinsic motivation to make changes.

The other approaches discussed here are quite punitive. Such approaches would be unlikely to lead to engagement in the social work relationship. The client is unlikely to make changes with these approaches, as he will be less likely to trust the social worker and engage in the change process.

86.

Which of the following is the BEST approach to dealing with a client's negative feelings?

  • Discuss them openly

  • Delay engagement with these feelings

  • Ignore these feelings

  • Assess for mental illness

Correct answer: Discuss them openly

If possible, a client's negative feelings should be dealt with openly, as they can form a barrier to treatment. The client will decide whether this is possible.

Engagement with these feelings should not be delayed or ignored altogether, and they are not necessarily symptoms of a mental illness.

87.

A family has come to you seeking assistance with conflict resolution, as arguments among family members have become too difficult to manage. You're talking with the family about what has made them decide to come to treatment now, and you're helping them understand your role as the social worker in the treatment process.

In what stage of the problem-solving process are you?

  • Engagement

  • Assessment

  • Planning

  • Evaluation

Correct answer: Engagement

During the engagement process, the social worker defines the role of both social worker and client, discusses the reasons the client has sought treatment at this time, and describes the parameters of the helping relationship. The engagement stage of the problem-solving process was described in the question.

The assessment stage involves the client providing information to assist with defining their problem and potential solutions.

The planning stage involves goal-setting and collaboration between client and social worker to agree on an action plan.

Evaluation involves using a combination of subjective and objective measures to determine whether goals of treatment were met.

88.

Which of the following roles allows a social worker to explore resolution strategies and identify and clarify problems?

  • Counselor

  • Broker

  • Advocate

  • Activist

Correct answer: Counselor

Social workers take on many roles in both direct and indirect practice. Social workers in the role of counselor are able to identify and clarify problems, explore resolution strategies, select the appropriate strategy, and develop the capacity to resolve problems.

Social workers in the broker role link individuals and groups to resources and services. Social workers in the advocate role act on direct behalf of individuals and groups. Social workers in the activist role seek institutional change on behalf of a disadvantaged group.

89.

Which of the following is NOT an expected therapeutic outcome of empathic communication?

  • Transference

  • Deeper engagement with problems

  • Increased rapport

  • Decreased defensiveness

Correct answer: Transference

Transference refers to "extra" feelings that a client brings to the client-social worker relationship, and though common, it is not necessarily a product of empathic communication.

The benefits of empathic communication are many. This style allows for a deeper engagement with problems, as it builds trust and allows for greater vulnerability. Increased rapport will definitely occur if the client feels that they are truly being heard; similarly, a client's natural defensiveness will decrease if empathic communication is the rule in the client interaction.

90.

Which of the following is not necessarily a clinical result of poor body image?

  • Substance abuse

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Social withdrawal

Correct answer: Substance abuse

Though substance abuse can be a more distal result of negative body image, it is not as immediate to such cases as are phenomena like depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal. The depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal implicated in negative body image are more long-term, stable presentations in individuals struggling with this issue.

91.

Which of the following refers to skills that depend on accumulated knowledge and experience, good judgment, and mastery of social conventions?

  • Crystallized intelligence

  • Fluid intelligence

  • Verbal ability

  • Inductive reasoning

Correct answer: Crystallized intelligence

Researchers agree that there are two broad mental abilities, each of which includes a variety of intellectual factors. Crystallized intelligence is the collection of skills that depend on accumulated knowledge and experience, good judgment, and mastery of social conventions. These abilities are typically acquired because they are valued by the culture in which the individual lives. Crystallized intelligence can be measured with standardized psychological tests that examine vocabulary, logical reasoning, and other similar intelligence factors.

Fluid intelligence refers to basic information-processing skills such as working memory and spatial visualization. Verbal ability and inductive reasoning are two types of mental abilities that include both crystallized and fluid skills. 

92.

Which role of a social worker involves locating and helping clients access services?

  • Case manager

  • Advocate

  • Facilitator

Correct answer: Case manager

A case manager identifies services and then helps clients obtain them. Brokers, which are similar, refer clients to services and follow up with them, but they don't actually help them apply for services.

Advocates fight for their clients' rights. Facilitators gather people together in order to plan community development projects, organize political campaigns, or plan policy changes.

93.

Kim receives a call from a woman needing a therapist who treats victims of sexual assault. The woman lives in a different county, so Kim is not familiar with that county's therapists. However, she does know another social worker in that county, so she contacts that social worker and obtains the names of some therapists that can assist the woman.

What allowed Kim to be able to help this woman?

  • Networking

  • Connections

  • Systems

Correct answer: Networking 

Kim used the results of networking to help a woman who desperately needed it. Networking means connecting with other professionals socially, but also sharing information and being able to call each other if something is needed.

Connections is incorrect because Kim would not have made the connection with the other social worker without first networking. Systems refers to parts that are connected to make a whole.

94.

Mrs. K has a 7-year-old son, Joe, with autism spectrum disorder who frequently throws temper tantrums when he does not get his way. The tantrums often occur over food-related issues; Joe will scream and cry until Mrs. K gives him the ice cream or cookie that he wants. Mrs. K admits that she can ignore Joe's temper tantrums for up to an hour, but if he is still screaming at that point she gives in, to "just make him stop." What behavior principle is demonstrated in this situation?

  • Mrs. K is positively reinforcing Joe's behavior

  • Mrs. K is negatively reinforcing Joe's behavior

  • Joe is positively reinforcing Mrs. K's behavior

  • Joe is negatively reinforcing Mrs. K's behavior

Correct answer: Mrs. K is positively reinforcing Joe's behavior

Positive reinforcement occurs when a specific behavior (in this situation, Joe's temper tantrums) is reinforced by a response like Mrs. K giving Joe the cookie. Though Mrs. K tries for an extended amount of time to ignore Joe's behaviors, she further reinforces his temper tantrums by eventually giving in.

Negative reinforcement is when something already present is removed as the result of a behavior, so Mrs. K is not negatively reinforcing Joe's behavior by giving in to his tantrums. Joe is not positively or negatively reinforcing Mrs. K's behaviors, as her responses influence Joe's behaviors, not vice versa.

95.

Laurie, a social worker, is helping her client Lois overcome her phobia of speaking to men. When Lois says she is ready, the two go to a local shopping area where Laurie strikes up normal, brief conversations with men they meet. She then asks Lois to do the same.

Which kind of role modeling is this?

  • Participant modeling

  • Symbolic modeling

  • Live modeling

  • Covert modeling

Correct answer: Participant modeling

Participant modeling is a two-step process in which there is a demonstration with the expectation that the behavior will be demonstrated by the participant.

Live modeling refers to watching a person perform a desired behavior. Symbolic modeling uses media such as film to show the desired behavior. Covert modeling draws upon imagination and visualization to help the client "see" themselves doing the desired behavior.

96.

The biopsychosocial history is used to measure all of the following, EXCEPT:

  • Behavioral change over time

  • Mental capacity and cognitive abilities

  • Physical aspects of the body

Correct answer: Behavioral change over time

The purpose of the biopsychosocial history is to look at all aspects of a person in order to understand them better. "Behavioral change over time" does not look at the aspects of a person, but is a quantitative collection of observations.

The biopsychosocial approach measures the three major aspects of an individual (biology, psychology, and social) and gives a social worker a better picture of what the individual is like.

97.

What is the common denominator in most abusive relationships?

  • Abuser's need for power

  • Abuser's mental illness

  • Abuser's substance abuse

  • Abuser's criminal record

Correct answer: Abuser's need for power

In most abusive relationships, the common denominator is the abuser's need for power and control.

Abusers need not have mental illness, substance abuse issues, or a criminal record.

98.

The environment a person interacts with has several dimensions. Which of the following is a dimension of the environment?

  • Culture

  • Biology

  • Church

Correct answer: Culture

The dimensions of environment include the physical world, social institutions and social structure, families, small groups, formal organizations, communities, culture, and social movements.

99.

A social worker believes that people move through a series of stages in which they confront conflicts between biological drives and social expectations. This social worker is operating from what perspective?

  • Psychoanalytic

  • Psychosocial

  • Behaviorism

  • Social learning theory

Correct answer: Psychoanalytic

The psychoanalytic perspective was developed by Sigmund Freud in the late 1800s and early 1900s and is based on the belief that people move through a series of stages in which they confront conflicts between biological drives and social expectations. Freud believed that individuals can resolve these conflicts by speaking freely with a therapist about traumatic childhood events. Some social workers and other clinicians today still adhere to a psychoanalytic perspective, though many integrate Freud's theories with other, more evidence-based, approaches.

The psychosocial theory posits that individuals move through clearly defined stages during which time they acquire practical skills that allow them to be active, contributing members of society. Behaviorism refers to the theory that observable events, rather than subjective perspectives, should be studied to gather information and conclusions. Social learning theory emphasizes the importance of modeling as a source of development.

100.

You lead a group for victims of domestic violence, which exists so that members can provide support and assistance to one another. The group has been meeting for about four years, with members changing week by week. This type of group is:

  • Open-ended

  • Closed

  • Mandated

  • Cognitive-behavioral

Correct answer: Open-ended

An open-ended group is one that has changing membership and does not have a time limit. This allows for greater flow of membership and requires a much lower level of commitment than other groups that might require commitment to attend meetings for a certain amount of time.

A closed group has the same members every week and is often time-limited in nature. A mandated group is one composed of members that are required to be present, such as parents working with social services to obtain custody of their children. Cognitive-behavioral groups are led by a clinician who integrates cognitive and behavioral interventions while promoting group discussion.