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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

ASWB BSW Exam Questions

Page 2 of 50

21.

Christine, a social worker, is attempting to help her client, Lori. Lori is being coached to think about areas of life in which she could be stronger, and role plays are done in which Christine can see how Lori handles herself in these areas. Eventually, Lori is encouraged to use more "I" statements instead of "you" statements.

Which of the following BEST describes the technique at work here?

  • Assertiveness training

  • Ego building

  • Psychoeducation

  • Cognitive therapy

Correct answer: Assertiveness training

Assertiveness training seeks to build the assertiveness of an individual in those areas of life in which they find themselves not as strong as they wish to be. It uses roleplay as an assessment as well as a therapeutic technique, and it challenges the client to think in terms of "I" statements rather than "You" statements.

The other answers are incorrect. "Ego building" is a fabricated term. Psychoeducation is therapeutic knowledge transfer. Cognitive therapy is a broader term meaning a whole school of techniques used to challenge and correct false beliefs and their effect on thinking and functioning.

22.

Why should issues related to medical problems be explored during a biopsychosocial assessment?

  • Mental health symptoms can make medical problems worse

  • Mental health diagnoses usually have medical explanations

  • Biological factors can always explain mental health diagnoses

Correct answer: Mental health symptoms can make medical problems worse

It is critical that medical issues are explored during a biopsychosocial assessment for an array of reasons. The most critical reason is that symptoms of mental illness can often cause medical issues and/or symptoms to worsen. Similarly, medical issues can contribute to and/or worsen symptoms of mental illness. Additionally, if there is a medical issue that has not been fully treated, it is critical to refer the client for treatment to ensure that symptoms of mental illness are not related to or caused by the organic illness prior to providing a mental health diagnosis. 

While symptoms of mental illness can have medical explanations, this is not "usually" the case. Similarly, though biological factors can make a person predisposed to certain mental illnesses, they do not "always" explain a mental health diagnosis, and thus, a complete assessment should be completed for each client a social worker meets with.

23.

Amber is helping her client, Curtis. Amber has helped Curtis learn that his beliefs and assumptions are in charge of his emotional reaction to the world. Digging deeper, Curtis has identified several mistaken or harmful beliefs. Amber helps Curtis identify situations that bring out his harmful beliefs, and they are working together to replace these with more functional, reality-based ideas.

Which of the following BEST describes Amber's technique?

  • Cognitive restructuring

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

  • Psychoeducation

  • Partializing

Correct answer: Cognitive restructuring

Cognitive restructuring involves the direct challenging of false or dysfunctional beliefs about the world while realizing that these control our emotional responses to life events. Cognitive restructuring seeks to replace the maladaptive belief structure with one that is more functional.

The other answer choices are incorrect. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is a much different technique meant to treat personality disorder. Psychoeducation involves more knowledge transfer than direct action. Partializing is an attempt to break down larger problems into smaller ones.

24.

Ongoing, relentless stress is MOST likely to cause:

  • Emotional trauma

  • Suicidality

  • Substance use

  • Termination of therapy

Correct answer: Emotional trauma

Trauma is an emotional response to an event that causes injury to the body or psyche. Emotional and psychological trauma can be caused by one-time events or ongoing, relentless stress. It is also true that, following trauma, many people experience stress as they attempt to process the event and cope with the fear that it or something similar may happen again.

Suicidality is an extreme response to trauma and/or stress and, though serious, it is not common. Substance use is a coping skill that some individuals use to handle stress, but it does not occur in the majority of situations. Stress may be the reason some people seek out therapy, but typically is not the reason therapy is terminated.

25.

A social worker is meeting with a client, a male in his mid-60s, for the first time. The client describes recent feelings of anxiety for no particular reason. The client states he has been having frequent headaches, "brain fog," and dizziness and is not sure why since he has never had these types of problems before.

What should the social worker do FIRST?

  • Refer the client for a medical evaluation

  • Give the client a diagnosis of dementia

  • Refer the client to a psychiatrist

  • Formulate a treatment plan for the client

Correct answer: Refer the client for a medical evaluation

When clients complain of physical symptoms, such as dizziness, forgetfulness, and headaches, social workers should refer them for medical evaluations to rule out any physical diagnoses. Once professionals can be sure there is not a medical diagnosis explaining the client's symptoms, they can work with the client to identify other causes.

The social worker does not have enough information to diagnose the client with dementia. The client should receive a medical evaluation before being referred to a psychiatrist, and the social worker should not create a treatment plan for the client until it is certain that the client's symptoms are explained by a mental disorder.

26.

A social worker employed by an agency agreed to see a child with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) for a diagnostic assessment. After conducting a thorough assessment with the child and his parents, the social worker decides that he is able to work with the child based on the child's behaviors and high level of adaptive and cognitive functioning. Then, the agency director decides to invite a mental health expert on children with TBIs to give a presentation to the staff one afternoon. After giving her presentation to the agency, she tells staff they should not hesitate to call her if they have any specific questions about treating a child with a TBI.

This is an example of:

  • Consultation

  • Administrative supervision

  • Educational supervision

  • Community feedback

Correct answer: Consultation

There are many ways social workers can choose to resolve problems encountered in practice. There are three types of supervision (administrative, educational, and supportive). A consultant is someone with considerable knowledge and expertise in a particular area whose advice is usually carefully considered for implementation. A consultant may be brought in for a particular case, especially if it involves problems not usually encountered by a social worker or their agency.

The purpose of administrative supervision is to appoint someone who is formally responsible for the social worker's actions by ensuring they follow proper procedures and policies. Educational supervision refers to a relationship between a supervisor and a social worker with the aim of teaching new skills; the individuals in this question are equals, not supervisor/supervisee. "Community feedback" is not a formal term used in professional social work.

27.

Which of the following does NOT represent one of B.F. Skinner's operant techniques?

  • Unconditioned stimulus

  • Negative reinforcement

  • Negative punishment

  • Positive reinforcement

Correct answer: Unconditioned stimulus

In B. F. Skinner's behavioral paradigm of operant conditioning, a behavior is either rewarded or discouraged—in the words of Skinner, reinforced or punished. The system comprises four possible operant techniques:

  1. Positive reinforcement, meaning the giving of a reward for behavior
  2. Negative reinforcement, meaning the removal of a negative as a reward
  3. Positive punishment, meaning the giving of a negative as a penalty
  4. Negative punishment, meaning the removal of a positive as a penalty

The term "unconditioned stimulus" is part of the older paradigm of Respondent or Classical Conditioning pioneered by Ivan Pavlov.

28.

According to Erikson, which of the following is TRUE about the psychosocial stages of human development?

  • Incomplete stages can be completed at a later time

  • Incomplete stages result in an increased ability to complete later stages

  • The earliest stages are less important than later stages

  • Only the first three stages must be completed in order

Correct answer: Incomplete stages can be completed at a later time

Erikson's theory of human development depends on the navigation of specific stages, each representing a test or conflict. Success in the completion of a given stage generally means a greater ability to complete later stages. Conversely, failure to complete earlier stages is linked with a decreased potential for later success.

As learning and development in human beings is somewhat flexible, it is possible for incomplete stages to be completed later. For example, a lack of self-esteem and initiative brought on by failure to complete the Initiative Versus Guilt stage can be compensated for by later developments such as personal success or rewarded risk-taking.

The stages are ordinal in character, as they are defined by developments in the human lifespan. The result of success is a healthy, stable, resilient personality.

29.

Maria lost her job at the local pharmacy earlier today. She is on the verge of tears because her job was the only source of income for her family, which includes three children. She comes to see a social worker at the local family service agency, pleading for help with paying the bills and buying groceries.

What should the social worker do FIRST?

  • Validate her feelings of anxiety and then present the options available to her for assistance

  • Address the underlying reasons for her financial insecurity

  • Perform a thorough assessment of her family situation and social history

Correct answer: Validate her feelings of anxiety and then present the options available to her for assistance

The social worker should aim to create a trusting relationship with clients. It is important first to help clients feel understood by validating and accepting their emotions. The social worker can then address the presenting problem (lack of employment) by concretely laying out Maria's options for her.

Eventually, if planning to work with Maria beyond the present crisis, the social worker may want to address the underlying reasons for Maria's financial insecurity and conduct a thorough assessment of the family situation and social history. In a crisis, however, this would be wasteful and inappropriate. In this case, the social worker should directly refer her to the agency by making contact with someone there and giving Maria explicit instructions on the agency's location and contact person.

30.

A client presents to a case management session with a social worker who notes that the client's mood appears to be elevated and expansive. During the meeting, the social worker assesses these symptoms as a notable change for the client but not as impacting the client's functioning negatively. Which of the following is MOST likely to be found in the social worker's mental status exam notes? 

  • The client appeared to be experiencing hypomania 

  • The client appeared to be experiencing mania

  • The client appeared to be experiencing psychosis

  • The client appeared to be experiencing delusions 

Correct answer: The client appeared to be experiencing hypomania 

Hypomania is the presence of an elevated, expansive, or unusually irritable mood that does not impact a client's daily functioning and does not include psychotic symptoms. Hypomania is less severe than mania. 

Mania is the presence of an elevated, expansive, or unusually irritable mood accompanied by increased energy, delusions of grandeur, and/or risky behaviors that impact daily functioning. Psychotic symptoms may or may not be present. Psychosis is the presence of hallucinations, delusions, and/or a disorganized thought process. Delusions are false, fixed belief systems that a client holds to despite the presence of evidence against them. 

31.

Kesha, a social worker, is meeting with a client who is struggling with substance abuse. She is exploring different intervention approaches and seeks out research studies that have shown effective methods of treating substance-use disorders. She integrates these interventions into the client's treatment plan. What practice is she exemplifying by incorporating research-supported interventions into the client's treatment plan?

  • Evidence-based practice 

  • Systems theory perspective

  • Strengths-based perspective 

  • Relational-cultural theory 

Correct answer: Evidence-based practice 

By seeking out and incorporating research-supported interventions for treating substance-use disorders, the social worker is demonstrating evidence-based practice. This approach involves integrating the best available research evidence with the social worker's clinical expertise and the client's preferences to make informed and effective treatment decisions. Evidence-based practice is a dynamic type of practice in which up-to-date information is used to make treatment decisions. 

The systems theory perspective emphasizes the impact of various systems on individuals but is not directly related to evidence-based practice. A strengths-based approach highlights clients' strengths and resources but does not specifically address the integration of research evidence into practice. Relational-cultural theory focuses on understanding and addressing cultural influences on relationships but does not capture the integration of research-supported interventions. 

32.

A criminal justice social worker is reading a forensic evaluation of a client who is noted to have correlated symptoms of stomach upset to a completely unrelated cause in an effort to gain dietary privileges. Which of the following MOST accurately describes the evaluator's observation?

  • False imputation 

  • Pure malingering

  • Partial malingering

  • Somatization 

Correct answer: False imputation 

Malingering is intentional false reporting or exaggeration of physical or mental health issues for secondary gain, specifically external gain. Malingering is broken into three categories: 

  • False imputation: attaching real symptoms to an unrelated source
  • Partial malingering: exaggerating symptoms that are real
  • Pure malingering: fabricating false symptoms completely 

Somatization is an unconscious experience in which physical symptoms result from psychological distress. 

In this example, the client is assigning existing symptoms to an unrelated source for external gain and engaging in false imputation. 

33.

Ronald is evaluating his client, Jessica. Jessica has recently lost her job, her relationship, and a close relative and is understandably depressed.

Which of the following would be the BEST way to describe Jessica's depression?

  • Exogenous depression

  • Endogenous depression

  • Circumstantial depression

  • Avoidant depression

Correct answer: Exogenous depression

Exogenous depression is a term used to characterize depression from exterior sources, such as losses in relationships, outside action, or other exterior influences.

The other answers are incorrect. Endogenous depression is that which is derived from inner factors such as biochemistry. "Circumstantial depression" and "avoidant depression" are both fabricated terms.

34.

A social worker at a hospice agency is completing an intake with a woman diagnosed with terminal cancer and her family. She states that she wants to ensure that her son is the one that makes medical decisions for her if she isn't able to. Which of the following documents would be MOST appropriate to recommend? 

  • An advance directive

  • A living will 

  • A POLST 

  • A DNR

Correct answer: An advance directive

An advance directive is a legally binding document that dictates who is the legal decision-maker for an individual if they become unable to make their own decisions regarding medical care. This is the most appropriate document to generate to fulfill the client's wishes. 

A living will is often paired with an advance directive. It is a legal document that allows a client to indicate their medical wishes in specific circumstances and allows increased control if they become incapacitated. A POLST, or Physician's Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, indicates which life-saving measures a client does and does not wish to be performed. A DNR is a legal document that indicates a client does not wish to be resuscitated in medical emergencies.

35.

A social worker is meeting with a seven-year-old child who discloses to the social worker that her stepfather often threatens to hit her when she talks back to him, calls her "stupid," and refuses to tuck her in bed at night if she has been "bad" during the day. This can be classified as:

  • Psychological abuse and neglect

  • Physical abuse

  • Sexual abuse

Correct answer: Psychological abuse and neglect

Psychological abuse and neglect is sustained, repetitive and inappropriate behavior aimed at threatening, isolating, discrediting, belittling, teasing, humiliating, bullying, confusing, and/or ignoring. Psychological abuse/neglect can be seen in constant criticism, belittling, teasing, ignoring or withholding praise or affection, and placing excessive or unreasonable demands, including expectations above what is appropriate.

The behavior described in the question is not necessarily physical abuse because, though the stepfather threatens to hurt the child, there is no indication that he actually does so. There is no indication in the question that the stepfather is sexually abusing the child.

36.

Philip finds himself increasingly drawn into his partner's substance abuse. Philip not only finds himself using alongside his partner, but he also subsidizes the habit financially to support the current situation and often denies there is a problem at all.

Which of the following terms BEST describes this kind of behavior?

  • Codependent

  • Co-occurring

  • Shielding

  • Co-enabling

Correct answer: Codependent

Substance use not only impacts the individual using substances, but their family members, friends, coworkers, and community members as well. Often, substance use can be accompanied by dysfunctional familial patterns of behavior. The pattern of behavior described above is called codependency. In a codependent dynamic, a family member unintentionally becomes an enabling party to the family member using substances as a result of behaviors that diminish the harmful impact of the substance use. The motivation for doing so may be subconscious or motivated by a fear of consequences for the loved one, but it still enables him to use substances which can lead to harmful outcomes.

The other answers are incorrect. Co-occurring refers to two disorders experienced together. Shielding and co-enabling are fabricated terms in this context.

37.

You are a social worker working with individuals being released from prison following conviction of a violent crime. Which of the following clients would MOST LIKELY present the highest risk of recidivism? 

  • A client who has peers who engage in violent behaviors

  • A client who had a behavioral disorder as a child

  • A client who demonstrated violent behavior at age 12

  • A client who has a substance-use history 

Correct answer: A client who has peers who engage in violent behaviors

Two of the strongest predictors of violence are gang involvement and engagement with a peer group that engages in violent behavior. 

Other risk factors for violent behavior include engagement in violent behavior before age 13, substance use, gun ownership, and engagement in risky behaviors. It is important for social workers to understand that most children with behavioral disorders do not grow up to become seriously violent, especially with treatment and mental health services. Protective factors for violence include engagement in programming that addresses risks, environmental assessment, social interventions, connection to psychiatric care, adequate medical and mental health care, limited access to firearms and other weapons, strong social and familial support, and engagement in coping skill building. 

38.

Which of the following is NOT a short-term goal in social work supervision? 

  • To ensure that services are delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible

  • To help the social worker feel satisfaction in their work 

  • To maximize a social worker's ability to work efficiently

  • To assist a social worker in developing productive work habits

Correct answer: To ensure that services are delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible

The long-term goal of supervision is to ensure that new social workers are delivering services as effectively and efficiently as possible. 

The short-term goals of supervision have been identified as assisting new social workers in finding satisfaction in their work, maximizing the social worker's ability to work efficiently, and assisting the social worker in developing work habits that are productive. It is essential that social workers providing supervision do so only in settings where they have the necessary level of skill and competence.

39.

According to Behaviorist theory, which of the following operant techniques increases the probability of a desired behavior?

  • Negative reinforcement

  • Negative consequence

  • Positive punishment

  • Positive consequence

Correct answer: Negative reinforcement

Within Behaviorist theory, negative reinforcement (the removal of a negative stimulus) increases a desired behavior. Positive punishment decreases behavior by increasing a negative stimulus.

The other two answer choices are incorrect. "Negative consequence" and "positive consequence" are not terms used in this way in Behaviorist theory.

40.

All of the following explain the increase in life expectancy, EXCEPT:

  • Stronger family support systems

  • A decrease in the number of lethal childhood diseases

  • Increased knowledge of germs and thus, better hygiene habits 

Correct answer: Stronger family support systems

It is critical for social workers to understand the phases of the life course and the challenges individuals and families face during the varying stages. The average age a person in a particular society is expected to live is referred to as the life expectancy. In recent decades, the life expectancy has generally been increasing. This is due to scientific advances that have resulted in a significant decrease in the number of lethal childhood diseases, increased knowledge of germs resulting in better hygiene practices, and the development of vaccines and antibiotics. 

Family systems have shifted and changed in recent decades, and many view them as having become weaker rather than stronger.

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