An Introduction to the Profession of Social Work:
Becoming a Change Agent, 4th Edition
, Chapter 1 – What is Social Work?
Exam Questions
Short Answer
1. Briefly discuss why it might be challenging to pursue social work as a career if
you disagree with many of the values and ethics found in the Social Work Code
of Ethics. Page 17
2. Explain how social work differs from other helping professions, such as
psychology. Page 10
3. Describe what is meant by “Person in Environment” and discuss how it is central
to social work practice. Page 7
4. Discuss what is meant by the “Diversity Perspective” in social work, and why it is
important. Page 11
5. Discuss the conflict that might arise between the ethical principles of a client’s
right to privacy and confidentiality, and a client’s right to self determination.
Provide an example of when these two principles might come into conflict. Page
18
True or False
1. Psychologists and other helping professionals work primarily in an office, while
social workers often visit clients in their homes as they seek to help improve
people’s lives. (True) Page 21
2. Most states require social work licensure or certification. (True) Page 3
3. Social service workers, regardless of their training, are considered to be “social
workers.” (False) Page 3
4. The strengths perspective focuses on teaching clients new skills in order to
strengthen their lives. (False) Page 10
5. The ecological systems framework focuses on interactions and transactions
between people and their surroundings. (True) Page 10
6. Social workers typically take and maintain control during their interactions with
clients. (False) Page 18
7. Most social workers work for the government. (False) Page 20
8. Social workers must learn to tolerate some ambiguity in resolving ethical conflicts (True)
Page 24
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is not true of a theory?
a. It attempts to explain why something is the way it is
b. It is used to make predictions about the likely outcomes of our efforts
c. It must be testable, meaning we can conduct research to observe whether or
not it is accurate
d. Must be agreed to by the majority of people in a profession to be true
Page 7
2
, 2. Which of the following is a theoretical framework commonly used by social
workers?
a. Ethical Perspective
b. Strengths Perspective
c. Oppositional Perspective
d. Pyschoanalytic Perspective
page 10
3. Social justice can be described as:
a. Something only the rich deserve
b. Something only the poor deserve
c. The level of fairness the exists in society
d. Respect for the uniqueness of the individual
page 17
4. If a social worker determines that a person is struggling with a problem that is
caused by something in that person’s environment, they are most likely to take a:
a. Micro approach to solving the problem
b. Psychoanalytic approach to solving the problem
c. Macro approach to solving the problem
d. Confrontational approach to solving the problem
page 3
5. Cultural competence in social work practice refers to the fact that social workers:
a. Should never work with people who are different from them
b. Should never work with people who have less power than they do
c. Should look for strengths in people with whom they work
d. Should develop behaviors, knowledge, skills and attitudes to work effectively
across cultures
page 12
Additional Resources
Videos:
Faces of Change: Social Work in the New Millennium (27 minutes). This video
examines social work and various practice environments, including commentary from a
number of social workers. It is available through the Council on Social Work Education.
Social Worker (20 minutes). This video follows a social worker through a typical day
and examines the credentials and requirements for becoming a social worker. It is
available through Insight Media at insight-media.com or (800) 233-9910.
Legacies of Social Change: 100 Years of Professional Social Work in the United States
(56 minutes). The video follows the history of social work in the U.S., looks at the
values and social forces that helped create the profession, and the major figures in the
field. It is available through NASW Press.
3
, There are many wonderful videos on YouTube that provide a good overview of various
types of social work practice. A search for “social work”, “what is social work” and
“social work roles” will yield a number of clips that are a good addition to this chapter.
Written Material:
Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-2011). Social Workers.
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm
Almgren, G., Kemp, S. P., & Elsinger, A. (2000). The legacy of Hull House and
the Children’s Bureau in the American mortality transition. Social Service Review, 74(1),
1-27.
Gibelman, M. (2005). What social workers do, 2nd edition. Washington, D.C.:
NASW Press.
Glaser, G. (2001). Reflections of a social work practitioner: Bridging the 19th
and 21 centuries. Research on Social Work Practice, 11(2), 190-200.
st
Ritter, J., Vakalhi, H.F., Kiernan-Stern, M. (2008). 101 Careers in Social Work.
New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
4
Becoming a Change Agent, 4th Edition
, Chapter 1 – What is Social Work?
Exam Questions
Short Answer
1. Briefly discuss why it might be challenging to pursue social work as a career if
you disagree with many of the values and ethics found in the Social Work Code
of Ethics. Page 17
2. Explain how social work differs from other helping professions, such as
psychology. Page 10
3. Describe what is meant by “Person in Environment” and discuss how it is central
to social work practice. Page 7
4. Discuss what is meant by the “Diversity Perspective” in social work, and why it is
important. Page 11
5. Discuss the conflict that might arise between the ethical principles of a client’s
right to privacy and confidentiality, and a client’s right to self determination.
Provide an example of when these two principles might come into conflict. Page
18
True or False
1. Psychologists and other helping professionals work primarily in an office, while
social workers often visit clients in their homes as they seek to help improve
people’s lives. (True) Page 21
2. Most states require social work licensure or certification. (True) Page 3
3. Social service workers, regardless of their training, are considered to be “social
workers.” (False) Page 3
4. The strengths perspective focuses on teaching clients new skills in order to
strengthen their lives. (False) Page 10
5. The ecological systems framework focuses on interactions and transactions
between people and their surroundings. (True) Page 10
6. Social workers typically take and maintain control during their interactions with
clients. (False) Page 18
7. Most social workers work for the government. (False) Page 20
8. Social workers must learn to tolerate some ambiguity in resolving ethical conflicts (True)
Page 24
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is not true of a theory?
a. It attempts to explain why something is the way it is
b. It is used to make predictions about the likely outcomes of our efforts
c. It must be testable, meaning we can conduct research to observe whether or
not it is accurate
d. Must be agreed to by the majority of people in a profession to be true
Page 7
2
, 2. Which of the following is a theoretical framework commonly used by social
workers?
a. Ethical Perspective
b. Strengths Perspective
c. Oppositional Perspective
d. Pyschoanalytic Perspective
page 10
3. Social justice can be described as:
a. Something only the rich deserve
b. Something only the poor deserve
c. The level of fairness the exists in society
d. Respect for the uniqueness of the individual
page 17
4. If a social worker determines that a person is struggling with a problem that is
caused by something in that person’s environment, they are most likely to take a:
a. Micro approach to solving the problem
b. Psychoanalytic approach to solving the problem
c. Macro approach to solving the problem
d. Confrontational approach to solving the problem
page 3
5. Cultural competence in social work practice refers to the fact that social workers:
a. Should never work with people who are different from them
b. Should never work with people who have less power than they do
c. Should look for strengths in people with whom they work
d. Should develop behaviors, knowledge, skills and attitudes to work effectively
across cultures
page 12
Additional Resources
Videos:
Faces of Change: Social Work in the New Millennium (27 minutes). This video
examines social work and various practice environments, including commentary from a
number of social workers. It is available through the Council on Social Work Education.
Social Worker (20 minutes). This video follows a social worker through a typical day
and examines the credentials and requirements for becoming a social worker. It is
available through Insight Media at insight-media.com or (800) 233-9910.
Legacies of Social Change: 100 Years of Professional Social Work in the United States
(56 minutes). The video follows the history of social work in the U.S., looks at the
values and social forces that helped create the profession, and the major figures in the
field. It is available through NASW Press.
3
, There are many wonderful videos on YouTube that provide a good overview of various
types of social work practice. A search for “social work”, “what is social work” and
“social work roles” will yield a number of clips that are a good addition to this chapter.
Written Material:
Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-2011). Social Workers.
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm
Almgren, G., Kemp, S. P., & Elsinger, A. (2000). The legacy of Hull House and
the Children’s Bureau in the American mortality transition. Social Service Review, 74(1),
1-27.
Gibelman, M. (2005). What social workers do, 2nd edition. Washington, D.C.:
NASW Press.
Glaser, G. (2001). Reflections of a social work practitioner: Bridging the 19th
and 21 centuries. Research on Social Work Practice, 11(2), 190-200.
st
Ritter, J., Vakalhi, H.F., Kiernan-Stern, M. (2008). 101 Careers in Social Work.
New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
4
