ASWB SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE QUESTIONS
The evaluation process involves: 1) problem identification (called the "target" of the research); 2)
operationalization (selecting indices that represent the problem that can be measured; 3) determining
the "phase" (the time over which measurement will occur), including a "baseline phase" (without
intervention) and an "intervention phase." This may also include a "time series design," where data is
collected at discrete intervals over the course of the study.
14. Two social workers are in a crowded restaurant when one of the social worker's clients approaches
them. What should the social worker do?
A. Pretend he doesn't know the client
B. Introduce the client as his friend to the other social worker
C. Tell the client to leave them alone
D. Tell the client he'll call him later - answer-d. Tell the client he'll call him later
Always follow the client's lead in public settings and then kindly divert the attention away from
communicating in public. Keep client confidentiality without shaming or harming a client's ego.
5. Per Minuchin, psychosomatic families are most likely to be characterized by which of the following:
A. Frequent intense open conflicts between family members
B. Weak boundaries between family members
C. Family roles that are inflexible and stereotyped
D. Marked emotional distance between the husband and wife - answer-B. Weak boundaries between
family members
A 15 year-old male teenager is angry with his father. He cannot tell his father how he feels. He plays
football and during practice he deliberately tackles a member of the other team fiercely knocking the
other player to the ground. While charging the other player he is thinking about his father and the anger
he has for him. This is an example of:
A. Sublimation
B. Displacement
C. Reaction formation
D. Projection - answer-a. Sublimation
A 15-year-old client has been meeting with a social worker due to a diagnosis of major depression and
social anxiety. The client is wheelchair-bound and has been having difficulty managing the limitations of
getting around her school building. The teen suggests that her disability causes her to be an outcast and
her peers look at her and gossip about her in the hallways. What would be the MOST appropriate
response from the social worker?
A. Educate the client on her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) so she can advocate
for herself.
B. Assist the client in processing these emotions and help the client prioritize what issue she would like
to focus on in treatment.
C. Report the behavior to the principal as the student may be experiencing bullying.
,D. Provide the staff with psychoeducation on the child's condition and how the school can provide
appropriate accommodations. - answer-Answer: B
Rationale: Although the client is a minor, it is important to meet them where they are at and respect
their right to self determination. Given that the client has identified a variety of different stressors, and
has been diagnosed with major depression and social anxiety, it is important to prioritize the issue(s) she
would like to focus on in treatment.
A 15-year-old girl has been sent home from school on three occasions for drinking alcohol. Each time,
the mother becomes angry and threatens to punish the girl but is convinced by the father to give her
another chance. Which of the following terms BEST characterizes the father's behavior in this situation?
A Triangulating
B Enabling
C Advocating
D Manipulating - answer-B
A 17 year old boy worries about undressing in the locker room at school. The boy has no genital or
underarm hair and believes his genital s are underdeveloped. The adolescent is referred to the school
social worker . The social worker would first
A. Encourage the youth not to be ashamed
B. Suggest the youth see a physician who specializes in this issue
C. Refer the youth and his family to family therapy
D. Discuss the issue with the physical education teacher - answer-a. Encourage the youth not to be
ashamed
A 17-year-old mother of an infant wants to return to high school to complete her senior year with her
class. The principal advises the student to remain at home until her child is older and informs her that
evening classes are available. The student seeks the services of the school social worker. The social
worker should:
A assist the student in understanding the principal's recommendation
B meet with the principal and student to advocate on the student's behalf
C report the matter to the school board
D explore with the student alternative educational opportunities - answer-B
A 19-year-old male is progressing well in treatment. His parents, who are paying for his treatment,
contact the social worker and say that they want to get information about their son's progress. The
social worker should:
A. Arrange for a joint session with the parents and client
B. Explain to the parents that because of confidentiality she can neither confirm nor deny information
related to their son
C. Release the information to the parents as requested
D. Immediately discuss this with the client - answer-B
A 24 yr old woman complains of depressed mood. She tells the social worker that she has felt this way
the past 2-3 yrs. She has little energy for social or work activities, has difficulty making decisions and
concentrating, and has poor appetite. There are no delusions or hallucinations. Her most likely DSM IV
diagnosis is? (a) Dysthymic disorder (b) Bipolar disorder, depressed (c) Cyclothymic disorder (d) Major
depression, recurrent - answer-A
,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.
A 28 year old client with a long standing history of drug use is referred to a social worker by a concerned
relative. In the assessment interview, the client tells the social worker about frequent cocaine use. The
social worker should first.
A. Conduct a family interview to evaluate the families concern
B. Begin treatment, focusing on the reason for drug abuse
C. Refer the client to a substance abuse program
D. Evaluate the client's motivation for change - answer-c. Refer the client to a substance abuse program
A 28 Yr old client with a long standing history of drug use is referred to a social worker by a concerned
relative. In the assessment interview, the client tells the social worker about frequent cocaine use. The
social worker should FIRST: (A) conduct a family interview to evaluate the family's concern (B) begin
treatment, focusing on the reason for drug abuse (C) refer the client to a substance abuse program (D)
evaluate the client's motivation for change - answer-c
A 30 year-old divorced male tells his social worker that he is going to commit suicide and clearly outlines
a concrete plan to complete this. What should the social worker do first?
A. Complete a no-harm/no-risk agreement
B. Seek hospitalization
C. Complete an assessment
D. Maintain confidentiality - answer-b. Seek hospitalization----if ideation and intent can be clearly
assessed, seek admission first
A 33-year-old lawyer is convinced his promotion was refused because two senior associates dislike him.
He was told he needs further experience, but that the firm would like to consider him for promotion in
six months. He tells his social worker that he knows they turned him down because he is too aggressive
and that they will deny his promotion again. The social worker's best response is:
A. "Yes, you are probably too aggressive for them."
B. "How could you believe something for which you have no evidence?"
C. "You may be right, but they offered to reconsider you."
D. "That is the way law firms are." - answer-C
A 35 year old individual has recently experienced the death of a parent and the loss of a job, and has
increased consumption of alcohol. Which of the following areas should be assessed FIRST by the social
worker?
A. Financial resource availability
B. Potential for suicidal behavior
C. Need for grief counseling
, D. Extent of substance abuse - answer-Rationale: FIRST, the social worker would act to determine the
client's safety. Theonly option that addresses the client's safety is (B). Options A, C, and D may
beappropriate later, once the safety of the client has been addressed.
A 35-year-old woman meets with a social worker for an intake session. The client reports that she hasn't
been able to eat or sleep for several weeks, hasn't been going to work, and has been crying 'non stop'
since an unexpected break up with her partner. She says 'I feel like my entire life and future are ruined.'
What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Refer the client to an MD to rule out any medical issues
B. Explore what led to the unexpected breakup
C. Empathize with the client's sadness over the break up
D. Ask the client if she's having any thoughts of suicide or self harm - answer-D. Ask the client if she's
having any thoughts of suicide or self harm
The client has experienced a significant loss that has led to her feeling like her life and future are ruined.
While it doesn't use the word 'hopeless' this is precisely what the client is conveying. Because of this, we
need to first and foremost assess for suicide risk. When there are warning signs for risk of harm to self
(or others), we must assess this first. After that, we could do A due to the physical symptoms, and then
could move on to do C and B. When there are risk factors present in the question, we must start there
and rule out any risk of harm to self before moving forward with anything else.
A 38-year-old client with a history of chronic alcoholism develops short-term memory loss. He
compensates by inventing stories. He seems confused and disoriented. The most likely diagnosis is
A. Psychogenic amnesia.
B. Alzheimer's Disease.
C. Korsakoff's Syndrome.
D. Tardive's Dyskinesia. - answer-C
A 40-year-old male client explains that he is seeking care because he suffers from panic attacks. He
notes that he gets chills, nausea, dizziness, and experiences fear about once a day. A social worker's
FIRST step with this client would be to
1. Teach relaxation therapy
2. Set goals for reduction of anxiety
3. Arrange for a doctor's appointment
4. Assess the client's current situation - answer-3. Arrange for a doctor's appointment
RU SAFE
A 40-year-old male client explains that he is seeking care because he suffers from panic attacks. He
notes that he gets chills, nausea, dizziness, and experiences fear about once a day. A social worker's
FIRST step with this client would be to
A. Teach relaxation therapy
B. Set goals for reduction of anxiety
C. Arrange for a doctor's appointment
D. Assess the client's current situation - answer-d. Assess the client's current situation
