ASWB Masters MCQ 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A social worker is assigned to a client from a culture the worker knows little about. The MOST ethical response is to:
- Refer the client to a social worker from the same cultural background
- Seek consultation and education about the client's cultural context (Correct answer)
- Apply evidence-based interventions regardless of cultural differences
- Ask the client to explain their culture at the start of each session
Correct answer: Seek consultation and education about the client's cultural context
Cultural competence requires ongoing self-education and consultation; the social worker should develop knowledge rather than transfer the client or burden them with educating the worker.
Question 2: A social worker in a hospital is asked by a patient's adult child to share the patient's diagnosis without the patient's consent. The patient is competent. The social worker should:
- Share the information since family members have a right to know
- Decline to share and explain confidentiality protections to the family member (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient if they want their child informed, then decide
- Consult with the attending physician before responding
Correct answer: Decline to share and explain confidentiality protections to the family member
Confidentiality protects a competent patient's health information from being shared without their explicit consent, even with family members.
Question 3: When developing a biopsychosocial assessment, which domain does the 'social' component PRIMARILY address?
- The client's coping mechanisms and defense structures
- The client's relationships, support systems, and environmental factors (Correct answer)
- Psychiatric diagnoses and medication history
- Cultural beliefs and spiritual practices
Correct answer: The client's relationships, support systems, and environmental factors
The social component of a biopsychosocial assessment focuses on interpersonal relationships, social supports, family systems, and the broader environmental context.
Question 4: A social worker facilitating a group notices that one member consistently dominates discussions. The MOST appropriate intervention is to:
- Ask the dominant member to leave the group temporarily
- Use group facilitation techniques to invite quieter members to contribute (Correct answer)
- Discuss the behavior privately with the dominant member after the session
- Ignore the behavior to avoid shaming the member in front of peers
Correct answer: Use group facilitation techniques to invite quieter members to contribute
Using facilitation techniques in the moment, such as redirecting to quieter members, balances group participation without singling out or shaming the dominant member.
Question 5: Under the ecological systems theory, a child's relationship with their teacher is an example of which system level?
- Macrosystem
- Exosystem
- Microsystem (Correct answer)
- Chronosystem
Correct answer: Microsystem
The microsystem consists of the immediate environments in which a person directly participates, including family, school, and peer relationships.
Question 6: A client with a history of trauma presents with hypervigilance, intrusive memories, and avoidance of trauma reminders lasting 6 weeks after a car accident. The MOST likely diagnosis is:
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Correct answer)
- Adjustment Disorder with Anxious Mood
Correct answer: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is diagnosed when trauma-related symptoms persist for more than one month; Acute Stress Disorder applies to the first month post-trauma.
Question 7: A social worker is conducting a community needs assessment. Which method BEST ensures the voices of marginalized community members are represented?
- Reviewing existing service utilization statistics
- Conducting focus groups with current service users only
- Using participatory action research involving community members (Correct answer)
- Surveying agency staff about unmet client needs
Correct answer: Using participatory action research involving community members
Participatory action research actively involves community members, including marginalized populations, as co-researchers to ensure their perspectives directly shape the assessment.
ASWB Masters MCQ 3
A social worker is assigned to a client from a culture the worker knows little about.
The MOST ethical response is to: