FREE Master of Social Work Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real MSW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 FREE Master of Social Work Questions and Answers flashcards as text
A social worker is conducting a biopsychosocial assessment for a new client experiencing homelessness. Which component should be prioritized first according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs?
Answer: Assessing immediate safety and basic needs
According to Maslow's hierarchy, physiological and safety needs must be addressed before higher-level needs can be effectively assessed.
Which theoretical framework emphasizes examining how systems such as family, community, and society influence an individual's behavior and well-being?
Answer: Ecological systems theory
Ecological systems theory, developed by Bronfenbrenner, examines the multiple environmental systems that interact to influence human development and behavior.
A clinical social worker suspects that a 10-year-old client is being physically abused by a caregiver. What is the social worker's PRIMARY legal obligation?
Answer: File a report with Child Protective Services as a mandated reporter
Social workers are mandated reporters and must file a report with Child Protective Services when there is reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect.
In the DSM-5-TR, which specifier is used to indicate that a client's major depressive disorder symptoms include excessive guilt, psychomotor agitation, and early morning awakening?
Answer: With melancholic features
The melancholic features specifier is characterized by a loss of pleasure in nearly all activities, excessive guilt, psychomotor changes, and early morning awakening.
A social worker in a hospital setting is facilitating discharge planning for an elderly patient with dementia. Which ethical principle is MOST challenged when the patient insists on returning home alone despite safety concerns?
Answer: Dignity and worth of the person
The principle of dignity and worth of the person encompasses client self-determination, which can conflict with the social worker's duty to protect vulnerable clients from harm.
Which intervention approach uses a structured, time-limited format that focuses on resolving a specific problem identified by the client within approximately 8-12 sessions?
Answer: Task-centered practice
Task-centered practice is a brief, structured intervention model typically lasting 8-12 sessions that focuses on specific, client-identified problems and concrete action steps.