LMSW Practice Test, ASWB Practice
Questions
A factor that contributes to the development of a "group-think" mentality within a policy-
making committee is
A. apathy.
B. hostility.
C. competition.
D. amicability. - answer*D. amicability.*
Group think suggests unquestioning unanimity and lack of critical thought. Groups that
have achieved a high level of personal connection tend to overvalue relationships and
can diminish the work functions of the group.
A supervisor works with a social worker whose learning pattern is that of an
experimental-empathetic learner. The worker is intuitive and uses self appraisals quite
well. To enhance the worker's learning the supervisor might
A. offer repetitive experience with different cases.
B. state concrete and specific expectations.
C. help the worker conceptualize and critically evaluate the issues.
D. make the associations between theory and practice. - answer*A. offer repetitive
experience with different cases.*
The key term is experimental. This type of learner is prepared to learn empirically from
demonstration-effect-observation. Learning best from observation and testing is quite
common and suggests that a supervisor permits some latitude to the supervisee to
allow them to test hypotheses.
Because of an unexpected upsurge of migrant workers during the summer the director
of a small social agency must cancel August vacations. He expects that the decision will
be met with resistance and dissent. To engage staff effectively he should
A. send a memorandum to the staff describing the change and the reason.
B. hold a general staff meeting where the issue is noted as an item.
C. discuss the issue with subordinates and allow for questions, alternate possibilities
and objections.
D. discourage dissent within the informal structure by asking the supervisors and
informal leaders to meet with the director. - answer*C. discuss the issue with
subordinates and allow for questions, alternate possibilities and objections.*
,Any policy that affects people's lives and is simply dictated without opportunity for
discussion is likely to stir opposition. Opening the issue for discussion creates
opportunities for change and provides staff with a sense of participation. Even if the
outcome is the same, staff will feel they had an opportunity to represent their interests
and to offer alternatives.
On several occasions a social worker observes that a co-worker in the agency seems to
be under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. On one occasion the worker smelled
alcohol. The co-worker is seeing clients. The social worker should
A. talk to the administrator.
B. first speak to the colleague about obtaining assistance.
C. first speak to the supervisor.
D. do nothing in anticipation that the worker's problems will be observed by the
administrator. - answer*B. first speak to the colleague about obtaining assistance.*
The new NASW Code of Ethics suggests that workers first try and correct problems with
the colleague before discussing problems with management. The worker, however,
would not attempt a direct discussion if he or she felt threatened or believed the worker
might retaliate.
A board function that is inappropriate, except in rare instances is
A. fund-raising.
B. policy formulation.
C. monitoring day to day activities.
D. establishing new organizational goals. - answer*C. monitoring day to day activities.*
Board functions can vary but it is highly unusual for a Board to intrude on the domains
of the executive director. Day-to-day program operations are a clear boundary that
Boards should observe. The creation of board policy directions, planning, fund-raising,
and future directions are clearly within the parameters of Board responsibility.
The Family Court refers Mr. and Mrs. Williams to a community service agency. During
the initial interviews they are angry, have poor reality testing, and have difficulty
restraining themselves from acting out. Their projections are easily accessible, but Mr.
Williams exhibits disorganized thinking. the most appropriate recommendation of the
social worker would be to
A. see the couple conjointly, but on a short-term basis.
B. refer them to a psychiatric clinic for possible medication and long-term therapy.
C. see the couple individually for short-term treatment.
D. provide no psychotherapeutic interventions since it might exacerbate the
decompenstation. - answer*B. refer them to a psychiatric clinic for possible medication
and long-term therapy.*
,The combination of anger, poor reality testing, and acting out behavior suggests a more
intensive therapeutic approach in mental health or psychiatric setting. The
"service" agency would not seem to be a proper treatment venue for couples with
serious emotional difficulties. Short-term family treatment and short-term individual
treatment would not seem appropriate. Doing nothing is not an appropriate option.
In the initial phase of treatment, the primary social work task is to
A. establish a warm relationship with the client.
B. understand by the client is seeking help.
C. engage the client in treatment.
D. gather information for a psychosocial diagnosis. - answer*B. understand by the client
is seeking help.*
The first task is always to understand why the client has sought assistance. During that
process a warm relationship (A) can be established, the client can be helped to engage
in treatment (C) and information for a psychosocial diagnosis (D) may be obtained.
A young, married woman is admitted to a city hospital in acute cardiac decompensation.
While there she writes a letter to the medical social worker in the voluntary hospital
where she was previously treated and asks for a transfer to that facility. The work er
receiving the letter should
A. notify the patient that this is not the worker's function.
B. ignore the letter, since the patient is in treatment.
C. contact the social worker in the city hospital and ask him or her to see the patient.
D. arrange for a transfer, as per her written request. - answer*C. contact the social
worker in the city hospital and ask him or her to see the patient.*
The client's request reflects an attachment to her previous social worker. However, she
needs to be in a medical facility at this time. Her former social worker should contact the
social worker in the current facility. This is a response which is caring and respects the
history of the relationship between the client and the former social worker. The current
social worker would let the client know that her previous worker called. This could allow
the client to feel that there was a connection between her previous facility and her
current one. Such a connection can feel holding and safe to clients.
A criterion that is not a measure of a client's motivation is
A. the level of discomfort.
B. The level of hope.
C. ego strength.
D. ability to see himself/herself as able to change. - answer*C. ego strength.*
, Motivation for change stems from thoughts or feelings. Discomfort and hope (A and B)
are feelings, and the ability to envision change (D) is a thought.
A social worker seeks to develop a relationship and case plan with a 15-year-old Black
adolescent who is involved with a violent gang. His family has low expectations of him
and focus on "staying out of trouble" as a primary goal. Some relatives have rejected
him, telling him he will grow up like his father --- a chronic alcoholic and wanderer.
Neighborhood adults have accorded him pariah status and are openly fearful, distrustful
and occasionally hostile. He feels that police harass Black teenagers and do not provide
protection. His school performance is poor and because of his attitude, teachers have
low performance expectations for him. He does not participate in social agency
recreational programs and view youth workers as simply another type of authority
figure. The gang provides a sense of community and family and offers opportunities to
display power and competence. In working with the teenager described above -
answer*B. an ecological systems approach.*
An ecological systems approach is one which takes into account the social
environment. A central feature of this adolescents life is his membership in the game.
Thus, the most effective plan is one which recognizes and respects the centrality of this
relationship.
An infant showing drug withdrawal symptoms at birth is read for foster care placement
following medical treatment and court action. To prepare the prospective foster parents,
the social worker should
A. not mention the infant's drug background so as not to precipitate feelings of bias.
B. inform them of the infant's drug background, treatments provided and answer any
questions about the medical issues the child may present.
C. inform them that the baby may have some medical problems and give them
instructions about how to proceed.
D. inform them of biological mother's drug addiction and that they should not worry
about any potential medical problems. - answer*B. inform them of the infant's drug
background, treatments provided and answer any questions about the medical issues
the child may present.*
This is both an ethical and a practice question. The foster parents have a right to full
disclosure of the infant's condition. Moreover, in order for them to properly care for the
child they need to have complete information. Holding back or minimizing is an ethical
breach and is poor practice.
The most common hallucinations in schizophrenia are
A. visual.
B. auditory.
C. tactual.
D. olfactory. - answer*B. auditory.*
Questions
A factor that contributes to the development of a "group-think" mentality within a policy-
making committee is
A. apathy.
B. hostility.
C. competition.
D. amicability. - answer*D. amicability.*
Group think suggests unquestioning unanimity and lack of critical thought. Groups that
have achieved a high level of personal connection tend to overvalue relationships and
can diminish the work functions of the group.
A supervisor works with a social worker whose learning pattern is that of an
experimental-empathetic learner. The worker is intuitive and uses self appraisals quite
well. To enhance the worker's learning the supervisor might
A. offer repetitive experience with different cases.
B. state concrete and specific expectations.
C. help the worker conceptualize and critically evaluate the issues.
D. make the associations between theory and practice. - answer*A. offer repetitive
experience with different cases.*
The key term is experimental. This type of learner is prepared to learn empirically from
demonstration-effect-observation. Learning best from observation and testing is quite
common and suggests that a supervisor permits some latitude to the supervisee to
allow them to test hypotheses.
Because of an unexpected upsurge of migrant workers during the summer the director
of a small social agency must cancel August vacations. He expects that the decision will
be met with resistance and dissent. To engage staff effectively he should
A. send a memorandum to the staff describing the change and the reason.
B. hold a general staff meeting where the issue is noted as an item.
C. discuss the issue with subordinates and allow for questions, alternate possibilities
and objections.
D. discourage dissent within the informal structure by asking the supervisors and
informal leaders to meet with the director. - answer*C. discuss the issue with
subordinates and allow for questions, alternate possibilities and objections.*
,Any policy that affects people's lives and is simply dictated without opportunity for
discussion is likely to stir opposition. Opening the issue for discussion creates
opportunities for change and provides staff with a sense of participation. Even if the
outcome is the same, staff will feel they had an opportunity to represent their interests
and to offer alternatives.
On several occasions a social worker observes that a co-worker in the agency seems to
be under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. On one occasion the worker smelled
alcohol. The co-worker is seeing clients. The social worker should
A. talk to the administrator.
B. first speak to the colleague about obtaining assistance.
C. first speak to the supervisor.
D. do nothing in anticipation that the worker's problems will be observed by the
administrator. - answer*B. first speak to the colleague about obtaining assistance.*
The new NASW Code of Ethics suggests that workers first try and correct problems with
the colleague before discussing problems with management. The worker, however,
would not attempt a direct discussion if he or she felt threatened or believed the worker
might retaliate.
A board function that is inappropriate, except in rare instances is
A. fund-raising.
B. policy formulation.
C. monitoring day to day activities.
D. establishing new organizational goals. - answer*C. monitoring day to day activities.*
Board functions can vary but it is highly unusual for a Board to intrude on the domains
of the executive director. Day-to-day program operations are a clear boundary that
Boards should observe. The creation of board policy directions, planning, fund-raising,
and future directions are clearly within the parameters of Board responsibility.
The Family Court refers Mr. and Mrs. Williams to a community service agency. During
the initial interviews they are angry, have poor reality testing, and have difficulty
restraining themselves from acting out. Their projections are easily accessible, but Mr.
Williams exhibits disorganized thinking. the most appropriate recommendation of the
social worker would be to
A. see the couple conjointly, but on a short-term basis.
B. refer them to a psychiatric clinic for possible medication and long-term therapy.
C. see the couple individually for short-term treatment.
D. provide no psychotherapeutic interventions since it might exacerbate the
decompenstation. - answer*B. refer them to a psychiatric clinic for possible medication
and long-term therapy.*
,The combination of anger, poor reality testing, and acting out behavior suggests a more
intensive therapeutic approach in mental health or psychiatric setting. The
"service" agency would not seem to be a proper treatment venue for couples with
serious emotional difficulties. Short-term family treatment and short-term individual
treatment would not seem appropriate. Doing nothing is not an appropriate option.
In the initial phase of treatment, the primary social work task is to
A. establish a warm relationship with the client.
B. understand by the client is seeking help.
C. engage the client in treatment.
D. gather information for a psychosocial diagnosis. - answer*B. understand by the client
is seeking help.*
The first task is always to understand why the client has sought assistance. During that
process a warm relationship (A) can be established, the client can be helped to engage
in treatment (C) and information for a psychosocial diagnosis (D) may be obtained.
A young, married woman is admitted to a city hospital in acute cardiac decompensation.
While there she writes a letter to the medical social worker in the voluntary hospital
where she was previously treated and asks for a transfer to that facility. The work er
receiving the letter should
A. notify the patient that this is not the worker's function.
B. ignore the letter, since the patient is in treatment.
C. contact the social worker in the city hospital and ask him or her to see the patient.
D. arrange for a transfer, as per her written request. - answer*C. contact the social
worker in the city hospital and ask him or her to see the patient.*
The client's request reflects an attachment to her previous social worker. However, she
needs to be in a medical facility at this time. Her former social worker should contact the
social worker in the current facility. This is a response which is caring and respects the
history of the relationship between the client and the former social worker. The current
social worker would let the client know that her previous worker called. This could allow
the client to feel that there was a connection between her previous facility and her
current one. Such a connection can feel holding and safe to clients.
A criterion that is not a measure of a client's motivation is
A. the level of discomfort.
B. The level of hope.
C. ego strength.
D. ability to see himself/herself as able to change. - answer*C. ego strength.*
, Motivation for change stems from thoughts or feelings. Discomfort and hope (A and B)
are feelings, and the ability to envision change (D) is a thought.
A social worker seeks to develop a relationship and case plan with a 15-year-old Black
adolescent who is involved with a violent gang. His family has low expectations of him
and focus on "staying out of trouble" as a primary goal. Some relatives have rejected
him, telling him he will grow up like his father --- a chronic alcoholic and wanderer.
Neighborhood adults have accorded him pariah status and are openly fearful, distrustful
and occasionally hostile. He feels that police harass Black teenagers and do not provide
protection. His school performance is poor and because of his attitude, teachers have
low performance expectations for him. He does not participate in social agency
recreational programs and view youth workers as simply another type of authority
figure. The gang provides a sense of community and family and offers opportunities to
display power and competence. In working with the teenager described above -
answer*B. an ecological systems approach.*
An ecological systems approach is one which takes into account the social
environment. A central feature of this adolescents life is his membership in the game.
Thus, the most effective plan is one which recognizes and respects the centrality of this
relationship.
An infant showing drug withdrawal symptoms at birth is read for foster care placement
following medical treatment and court action. To prepare the prospective foster parents,
the social worker should
A. not mention the infant's drug background so as not to precipitate feelings of bias.
B. inform them of the infant's drug background, treatments provided and answer any
questions about the medical issues the child may present.
C. inform them that the baby may have some medical problems and give them
instructions about how to proceed.
D. inform them of biological mother's drug addiction and that they should not worry
about any potential medical problems. - answer*B. inform them of the infant's drug
background, treatments provided and answer any questions about the medical issues
the child may present.*
This is both an ethical and a practice question. The foster parents have a right to full
disclosure of the infant's condition. Moreover, in order for them to properly care for the
child they need to have complete information. Holding back or minimizing is an ethical
breach and is poor practice.
The most common hallucinations in schizophrenia are
A. visual.
B. auditory.
C. tactual.
D. olfactory. - answer*B. auditory.*
