MSW Social Work Research and Policy 5

Question 1

The 'two-stream' model of agenda setting in public policy (Kingdon) proposes that policy change occurs when:

Accepted Answer

A policy window opens allowing the problem, policy, and political streams to converge

Answer

Kingdon's Multiple Streams Model holds that durable policy change requires the simultaneous alignment of the problem, policy, and political streams through an open policy window.

Question 2

Which statistical technique is MOST appropriate for analyzing the unique contribution of several predictor variables (e.g., age, income, education) to a single continuous outcome like depression scores?

Accepted Answer

Multiple linear regression

Answer

Multiple linear regression models the relationship between multiple independent variables and one continuous dependent variable while controlling for covariates.

Question 3

Which provision of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is MOST relevant to school social workers?

Accepted Answer

It prohibits schools from sharing student education records without parental consent

Answer

FERPA protects the privacy of student education records and generally prohibits their disclosure without the consent of the eligible student or parent.

Question 4

A social worker reviewing a study notes that participants who dropped out of the experimental group were sicker at baseline than those who completed the study. This is an example of which threat to internal validity?

Accepted Answer

Differential attrition

Answer

Differential attrition (also called selective dropout) occurs when participants who leave the study differ systematically from those who remain, biasing outcome comparisons.

Question 5

The concept of 'wicked problems' in social policy refers to issues that are:

Accepted Answer

Complex, interdependent, and resistant to definitive solutions because solving one aspect creates new problems

Answer

Wicked problems (Rittel & Webber) are characterized by complexity, interdependence with other issues, and the absence of a clear, final solution — every intervention has unintended consequences.

MSW - Master of Social Work Practice Test

MSW - Master of Social Work Practice Test

MSW Social Work Research and Policy 5