SW 8350 – Applications of cognitive-behavioral theories to interpersonal practice II
Final Exam – Winter 2020
Name: Date:
You are expected to work independently on this take-home exam. This exam accounts for 20% of the
final course grade.
To formulate your response, you may consult all materials presented in the CBT track including books,
articles, PowerPoint lectures, etc., and especially the material presented in SW8350.
All the work must be in your own words. You do not need to use citations and references. You may
refer to the authors of your readings and texts if you think doing so helps you to clarify your assertions. In
such cases, please provide a proper APA style in-text citation and a properly formatted reference page.
However, DO NOT USE QUOTATIONS. Remember that using another author’s material presented as
your own (without proper citation) is plagiarism and will result in a failing grade.
Instructions:
1. Part I (brief answers):
a. Type your answers in the template provided by the instructor and submit the document
with your answers via Canvas. Please be sure that your name appears in all the pages.
b. If you chose to type your answers in different sheets of paper:
i. Clearly identify your responses by properly numbering the answers and
using headings, subheadings to separate your responses as necessary.
ii. Include your name in all the pages and be sure to number all the pages.
c. There is a firm limit of 6 pages for Part I of the exam.
d. Read the questions carefully and express yourself succinctly with answers that are
thoughtful, brief, to-the-point, and reflect careful deliberation. Long-winded, rambling
and wordy answers will not get any extra points and generally reflect a poor
understanding of the subject matter.
e. Please be a careful writer and review your responses for spelling and syntax
before submission.
2. Part II (multiple choice, true or false, matching, fill-in-the-blank) & Bonus Questions: This
is the electronic part of the exam to be completed using Canvas.
For this exam you will need to rely on:
1) Critical thinking skills.
2) Understanding of the relevant scholarly material presented in this course.
3) Knowledge of the application of cognitive & behavioral methods and strategies to various stages
of development.
4) Awareness of contextual factors affecting well-being and adaptation.
5) Attentiveness to cultural diversity and impact of environmental pressures/stressors on
vulnerable and oppressed populations.
6) Knowledge of social work ethical values and standards and the resolution of ethical
conflicts/dilemmas
7) Knowledge of common mental health disorders discussed in class.
Revised: March 1
, SW 8350 – Applications of cognitive-behavioral theories to interpersonal practice II
Final Exam – Winter 2020
Name: Date:
PART I
Case #1: The Case of Jim (20 points).
Jim is a Mexican American boy starting his freshman year at George Washington high school, the local
public high school. He was referred to the school’s social worker due to fighting and underachieving
academically.
Jim is the oldest of three siblings aged 14, 7 and 6. His parents Miguel and Maria were born in Mexico,
and for the past 15 years the family lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Miguel is a cardiologist and Maria,
a registered nurse. Six months ago, the family moved to this area when Miguel was offered a position as
chief of cardiology at a local hospital. The move uprooted Maria from a job she “absolutely loved” and
too her away from her friends and culture. This adjustment has reignited and exacerbated previous
problems between Miguel and Maria, resulting in regular bickering and arguments and increased tension
and stress in the family. As a result of moving to Michigan, Jim also had to leave the friends he knew for
all his life and with whom he shared common interests in school activities, sports, music, and language.
In New Mexico, Jim attended a private school and was an excellent student with grades from A to A-.
However, since coming to Washington H.S., Jim has failed to complete his work on time; often appears
disinterested in the classroom; and his grades have been mostly C’s and D’s. Jim has not made any
friends in the new school. He states that most of the students have known each other for years and that
they have formed their own “cliques”. Jim is mostly isolated. This has led other students to pick on him,
making ethnic slurs, and calling him derogatory names. While discussing his new school Jim states “I do
not like the school”. Jim has gotten into several fights with students and has beaten them up to the point
that some have stopped harassing him. Consequently, he has started gained some recognition from other
students as a “tough guy”, which he seems to like, while experiencing some relief from the stress.
However, it has also led to 2 school suspensions in his 3 months at Washington H. S. It has also
contributed to poor academic performance, which in turn has strained the relationship with his parents,
adding to the tension at home.
Jim tells you that, although his parents were having problems prior to the move, now they seem to argue
constantly and engage in shouting matches that according to Jim are “scary”. They threaten to leave, and
Jim is afraid that they will divorce. Lately, Maria has been devoting most of her free time to her 2
youngest children, and Miguel has been spending more time at the hospital. Jim often feels “lost” with
little attention and interaction from his parents. This situation leads Jim to think “my parents do not care
about me”; feels sad and spends time in his room playing video games. Jim tells you that in the previous
school he had many friends whom he had known since he was a small child. Many times, he would go to
their houses and study and do homework together, play games and watch T.V. He would look forward to
spending time in school with his friends. However, things have changed and now he spends most of his
time in his room by himself playing video games. He tells you that he does not like anything about his
new school and does not want to be there.
1. List one positive and one negative reinforcement of Jim’s aggressive behavior (1 point each)
a. .
b. .
Revised: March 2
, SW 8350 – Applications of cognitive-behavioral theories to interpersonal practice II
Final Exam – Winter 2020
Name: Date:
2. Identify one cognitive or behavioral intervention discussed in class that you may use to address
Jim’s aggressive behavior and briefly indicate your rationale for using it with Jim (3 points).
a.
3. List two of Jim’s automatic thoughts mentioned in the story and the feelings associated with each
(4 points).
a. Automatic thought:
a. Feeling:
b. Automatic thought:
a. Feeling
4. Identify 3 internal and 3 external factors that you think might be contributing to Jim’s ongoing
problems (i.e. aggressive behavior and poor school performance) (6 points).
a. (Internal):
1. .
2. .
3. .
b. (External):
1. .
2. .
3. .
5. Identify one cognitive and one behavioral strategy, discussed in class, that you would use to
target and improve Jim’s poor academic performance. Briefly, give your rationale for using each
strategy. (5 points)
.
Revised: March 3
Final Exam – Winter 2020
Name: Date:
You are expected to work independently on this take-home exam. This exam accounts for 20% of the
final course grade.
To formulate your response, you may consult all materials presented in the CBT track including books,
articles, PowerPoint lectures, etc., and especially the material presented in SW8350.
All the work must be in your own words. You do not need to use citations and references. You may
refer to the authors of your readings and texts if you think doing so helps you to clarify your assertions. In
such cases, please provide a proper APA style in-text citation and a properly formatted reference page.
However, DO NOT USE QUOTATIONS. Remember that using another author’s material presented as
your own (without proper citation) is plagiarism and will result in a failing grade.
Instructions:
1. Part I (brief answers):
a. Type your answers in the template provided by the instructor and submit the document
with your answers via Canvas. Please be sure that your name appears in all the pages.
b. If you chose to type your answers in different sheets of paper:
i. Clearly identify your responses by properly numbering the answers and
using headings, subheadings to separate your responses as necessary.
ii. Include your name in all the pages and be sure to number all the pages.
c. There is a firm limit of 6 pages for Part I of the exam.
d. Read the questions carefully and express yourself succinctly with answers that are
thoughtful, brief, to-the-point, and reflect careful deliberation. Long-winded, rambling
and wordy answers will not get any extra points and generally reflect a poor
understanding of the subject matter.
e. Please be a careful writer and review your responses for spelling and syntax
before submission.
2. Part II (multiple choice, true or false, matching, fill-in-the-blank) & Bonus Questions: This
is the electronic part of the exam to be completed using Canvas.
For this exam you will need to rely on:
1) Critical thinking skills.
2) Understanding of the relevant scholarly material presented in this course.
3) Knowledge of the application of cognitive & behavioral methods and strategies to various stages
of development.
4) Awareness of contextual factors affecting well-being and adaptation.
5) Attentiveness to cultural diversity and impact of environmental pressures/stressors on
vulnerable and oppressed populations.
6) Knowledge of social work ethical values and standards and the resolution of ethical
conflicts/dilemmas
7) Knowledge of common mental health disorders discussed in class.
Revised: March 1
, SW 8350 – Applications of cognitive-behavioral theories to interpersonal practice II
Final Exam – Winter 2020
Name: Date:
PART I
Case #1: The Case of Jim (20 points).
Jim is a Mexican American boy starting his freshman year at George Washington high school, the local
public high school. He was referred to the school’s social worker due to fighting and underachieving
academically.
Jim is the oldest of three siblings aged 14, 7 and 6. His parents Miguel and Maria were born in Mexico,
and for the past 15 years the family lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Miguel is a cardiologist and Maria,
a registered nurse. Six months ago, the family moved to this area when Miguel was offered a position as
chief of cardiology at a local hospital. The move uprooted Maria from a job she “absolutely loved” and
too her away from her friends and culture. This adjustment has reignited and exacerbated previous
problems between Miguel and Maria, resulting in regular bickering and arguments and increased tension
and stress in the family. As a result of moving to Michigan, Jim also had to leave the friends he knew for
all his life and with whom he shared common interests in school activities, sports, music, and language.
In New Mexico, Jim attended a private school and was an excellent student with grades from A to A-.
However, since coming to Washington H.S., Jim has failed to complete his work on time; often appears
disinterested in the classroom; and his grades have been mostly C’s and D’s. Jim has not made any
friends in the new school. He states that most of the students have known each other for years and that
they have formed their own “cliques”. Jim is mostly isolated. This has led other students to pick on him,
making ethnic slurs, and calling him derogatory names. While discussing his new school Jim states “I do
not like the school”. Jim has gotten into several fights with students and has beaten them up to the point
that some have stopped harassing him. Consequently, he has started gained some recognition from other
students as a “tough guy”, which he seems to like, while experiencing some relief from the stress.
However, it has also led to 2 school suspensions in his 3 months at Washington H. S. It has also
contributed to poor academic performance, which in turn has strained the relationship with his parents,
adding to the tension at home.
Jim tells you that, although his parents were having problems prior to the move, now they seem to argue
constantly and engage in shouting matches that according to Jim are “scary”. They threaten to leave, and
Jim is afraid that they will divorce. Lately, Maria has been devoting most of her free time to her 2
youngest children, and Miguel has been spending more time at the hospital. Jim often feels “lost” with
little attention and interaction from his parents. This situation leads Jim to think “my parents do not care
about me”; feels sad and spends time in his room playing video games. Jim tells you that in the previous
school he had many friends whom he had known since he was a small child. Many times, he would go to
their houses and study and do homework together, play games and watch T.V. He would look forward to
spending time in school with his friends. However, things have changed and now he spends most of his
time in his room by himself playing video games. He tells you that he does not like anything about his
new school and does not want to be there.
1. List one positive and one negative reinforcement of Jim’s aggressive behavior (1 point each)
a. .
b. .
Revised: March 2
, SW 8350 – Applications of cognitive-behavioral theories to interpersonal practice II
Final Exam – Winter 2020
Name: Date:
2. Identify one cognitive or behavioral intervention discussed in class that you may use to address
Jim’s aggressive behavior and briefly indicate your rationale for using it with Jim (3 points).
a.
3. List two of Jim’s automatic thoughts mentioned in the story and the feelings associated with each
(4 points).
a. Automatic thought:
a. Feeling:
b. Automatic thought:
a. Feeling
4. Identify 3 internal and 3 external factors that you think might be contributing to Jim’s ongoing
problems (i.e. aggressive behavior and poor school performance) (6 points).
a. (Internal):
1. .
2. .
3. .
b. (External):
1. .
2. .
3. .
5. Identify one cognitive and one behavioral strategy, discussed in class, that you would use to
target and improve Jim’s poor academic performance. Briefly, give your rationale for using each
strategy. (5 points)
.
Revised: March 3
