Masters Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real ASWB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Masters Assessment flashcards as text
A social worker is assessing a 10-year-old who has been refusing to attend school for three weeks, complaining of stomachaches each morning. The MOST appropriate initial assessment consideration is:
Answer: Separation anxiety disorder or school refusal related to anxiety
School refusal with somatic complaints in children is commonly associated with separation anxiety disorder or other anxiety-based conditions.
When a social worker assesses 'insight' in the mental status exam, they are evaluating the client's:
Answer: Understanding of their own illness and its impact on functioning
Insight refers to the client's awareness and understanding of their mental illness and how it affects their life.
A social worker is assessing a couple experiencing chronic conflict. Using a systems perspective, the social worker would PRIMARILY focus on:
Answer: Patterns of interaction and communication between the partners
A systems perspective focuses on relational patterns and circular causality rather than individual pathology or blame.
Which of the following BEST exemplifies a protective factor in a risk assessment?
Answer: Strong social support network and reasons for living
Protective factors such as strong social support and reasons for living reduce risk and buffer against suicidal behavior.
A social worker is conducting an assessment and notices the client repeatedly changes the subject when asked about their childhood. This is BEST understood as:
Answer: A possible indicator of avoidance related to distressing material
Avoidance of specific topics may indicate emotional distress or trauma associated with that content, and warrants gentle clinical exploration.
A social worker documents that a client's affect is 'constricted.' This means the client's emotional expression is:
Answer: Reduced in range and intensity
Constricted affect describes a reduced range of emotional expression, less severe than flat affect but more limited than full affect.
A social worker is reviewing a genogram with a client and notes a pattern of substance use across three generations. This information is MOST useful for:
Answer: Identifying multigenerational patterns that may inform assessment and treatment planning
Genograms reveal intergenerational patterns that provide important context for understanding current client functioning and informing intervention.