ASWB Masters 4 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: A social worker is using solution-focused brief therapy with a client. Which question is MOST characteristic of this approach?
- 'Tell me about your childhood and how it shaped your current problems.'
- 'On a scale of 1 to 10, where are you now and what would a small step toward 10 look like?' (Correct answer)
- 'What do you believe is the root cause of your anxiety?'
- 'How has your depression affected your relationships over the past year?'
Correct answer: 'On a scale of 1 to 10, where are you now and what would a small step toward 10 look like?'
Scaling questions that focus on current functioning and small steps toward improvement are hallmark techniques of solution-focused brief therapy.
Question 2: A social worker learns that a client is undocumented and fears deportation. The social worker's obligation regarding confidentiality is to:
- Report the client's status to immigration authorities as required by law
- Maintain confidentiality unless a specific legal exception applies (Correct answer)
- Disclose the information to other agency staff for safety planning
- Encourage the client to self-report to authorities to reduce legal risk
Correct answer: Maintain confidentiality unless a specific legal exception applies
Immigration status is protected information; social workers maintain confidentiality unless a legally recognized exceptionânot a general duty to reportâapplies.
Question 3: A social worker uses a genogram in assessment. Genograms are MOST useful for:
- Measuring a client's cognitive functioning and IQ
- Mapping multi-generational family relationships and patterns (Correct answer)
- Assessing the client's social support network in the community
- Identifying the client's strengths and resilience factors
Correct answer: Mapping multi-generational family relationships and patterns
A genogram is a graphic tool used to map family structure, relationships, and patterns across at least three generations.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of macro-level social work practice?
- Providing individual counseling to a client with PTSD
- Leading a psychoeducational group for parents of children with ADHD
- Advocating for policy changes to expand Medicaid eligibility (Correct answer)
- Conducting a family assessment for a child welfare case
Correct answer: Advocating for policy changes to expand Medicaid eligibility
Macro-level practice involves community organizing, policy advocacy, and systemic change rather than direct service to individuals or families.
Question 5: According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, the primary developmental conflict for a healthy 70-year-old is:
- Generativity vs. stagnation
- Ego integrity vs. despair (Correct answer)
- Industry vs. inferiority
- Identity vs. role confusion
Correct answer: Ego integrity vs. despair
Erikson's eighth stage (late adulthood) centers on ego integrityâaccepting one's life as meaningfulâversus despair over missed opportunities.
Question 6: A client with borderline personality disorder frequently calls the crisis line between sessions and reports that the social worker is 'the only one who truly helps.' This pattern MOST likely reflects:
- Genuine therapeutic progress and trust
- Splitting and idealization (Correct answer)
- Countertransference in the therapeutic relationship
- Dependency resulting from inadequate coping skills
Correct answer: Splitting and idealization
Idealizationâviewing the therapist as 'all good' while devaluing othersâis a manifestation of the splitting defense mechanism common in borderline personality disorder.
Question 7: A social worker is conducting a community needs assessment. Which method would provide the MOST representative data about the community's perceptions of service gaps?
- Interviewing agency directors in the target community
- Distributing a random sample survey to community residents (Correct answer)
- Reviewing existing agency utilization statistics
- Holding focus groups with current service recipients
Correct answer: Distributing a random sample survey to community residents
A random sample survey of residents provides statistically representative data about community-wide perceptions, unlike purposive or convenience sampling methods.
ASWB Masters 4
A social worker is using solution-focused brief therapy with a client.
Which question is MOST characteristic of this approach?