ASWB Unit 2: Assessment Methods and Techniques Questions and
Correct Answers.
The Factors And Processes Used In Problem Formulation - ANSIn both micro and macro practice, social
workers must work with clients to identify the problem(s) to be addressed.
Problem identification concerns determining the problem targeted for intervention. Although this seems
straightforward, it is often difficult to isolate the issue that, when addressed, will result in a change in the
symptomology of a client and/or client system.
Part of problem identification is determining the issue in exact definable terms, when it occurs, and its
magnitude. When doing macro practice, a social worker may often need to get consensus from the group
regarding whether there is agreement as to the nature of the problem and its occurrence and magnitude.
It is often useful in problem identification to determine that which is not the problem. Such a technique
will ensure that these elements are not grouped in with those that are targeted and will assist in
narrowing down the focus.
The problem should always be considered within the person-in-environment perspective and using a
strengths-based approach. It should not blame a client and/or client system for its existence.
Methods Of Involving Clients/Client Systems In Problem Identification - ANSSocial workers focus on
assisting clients to identify problems and areas of strength, as well as increasing problem-solving
strategies.
It is essential that, throughout the problem-solving process, social workers view clients as experts in their
lives.
Clients should be asked about what they would like to see changed in their lives and clients' definitions of
problems should be accepted.
,Clients should be asked about what will be different in their lives when their problems are solved. Social
workers should listen carefully for, and work hard to respect, the directions in which clients want to go
with their lives (their goals) and the words they use to express these directions.
Clients should be asked about the paths that they would like to take to make desired changes. Clients'
perceptions should be respected and clients' inner resources (strengths) should be maximized as part of
treatment.
The use of collateral sources - ANSSocial workers often use collateral sources—family, friends, other
agencies, physicians, and so on—as informants when collecting information to effectively treat clients.
These sources can provide vital information because other professionals or agencies may have treated
clients in the past. Family members and friends may also provide important information about the length
or severity of issues or problems.
Collateral information is often used when the credibility and validity of information obtained from a client
or others are questionable. For example, child custody cases are inherently characterized by biased data
within an adversarial process. Thus, it is often necessary to evaluate the integrity of information gathered
through use of collateral information.
However, social workers should always assess the credibility of collateral informants, because data from
more neutral parties has higher integrity. In addition, informants who have greater access to key
information may produce more valid data.
When an account by a collateral informant agrees with information gathered from a client, it enhances the
trustworthiness of the data collected.
Using multiple information sources (or triangulation) is an excellent method for social workers to have
accurate accounts upon which to make assessments or base interventions.
It is essential that a social worker get a client's informed consent prior to reaching out to collateral
sources. However, they can be a valuable source of data to supplement that obtained directly from a
client, as well as provide contextual or background information that a client may not know.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems - ANSThere are many psychological
tests in existence for assessment and diagnostic purposes.
,These include:
- Beck Depression Inventory
- The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
- Rorschach Inkblot Test
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
-Thematic Apperception Test
- Wechsler Intelligence Scale
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) - ANSa 21-item test, presented in multiple-choice formats, that assesses
the presence and degree of depression in adolescents and adults.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) - ANSis an objective verbal inventory designed
as a personality test for the assessment of psychopathology consisting of 550 statements, 16 of which are
repeated.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - ANSis a forced-choice, self-report inventory that attempts to classify
individuals along four theoretically independent dimensions. The first dimension is a general attitude
toward the world, either extraverted (E) or introverted (I). The second dimension, perception, is divided
between sensation (S) and intuition (N). The third dimension is that of processing. Once information is
received, it is processed in either a thinking (T) or feeling (F) style. The final dimension is judging (J) versus
perceiving (P).
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
, Rorschach Inkblot Test - ANSClient responses are used to assess perceptual reactions and other
psychological functioning. It is one of the most widely used projective tests.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale - ANSis designed for the testing of cognitive abilities. It provides verbal,
performance, and full scale scores for children and adults.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) - ANSanother widely used projective test.
It consists of a series of pictures of ambiguous scenes. Clients are asked to make up stories or fantasies
concerning what is happening, has happened, and is going to happen in the scenes, along with a
description of their thoughts and feelings. The test provides information on a client's perceptions and
imagination for use in the understanding of a client's current needs, motives, emotions, and conflicts,
both conscious and unconscious. Its use in clinical assessment is generally part of a larger battery of tests
and interview data.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC) - ANSdesigned as a measure of a child's intellectual and cognitive
ability. It has four index scales and a full scale score.
Psychological tests
(Methods To Incorporate The Results Of Psychological And Educational Tests Into Assessment) -
ANSinstruments used to measure an assortment of mental abilities and characteristics, such as
personality, achievement, intelligence, and neurological functioning. They often take the form of
questionnaires. They may be written, verbal, or pictorial tests (like the famous Rorschach test that uses
inkblot images). The tests may also be referred to as scales, surveys, screens, checklists, assessments,
measures, inventories, and so on.
Educational Tests
Correct Answers.
The Factors And Processes Used In Problem Formulation - ANSIn both micro and macro practice, social
workers must work with clients to identify the problem(s) to be addressed.
Problem identification concerns determining the problem targeted for intervention. Although this seems
straightforward, it is often difficult to isolate the issue that, when addressed, will result in a change in the
symptomology of a client and/or client system.
Part of problem identification is determining the issue in exact definable terms, when it occurs, and its
magnitude. When doing macro practice, a social worker may often need to get consensus from the group
regarding whether there is agreement as to the nature of the problem and its occurrence and magnitude.
It is often useful in problem identification to determine that which is not the problem. Such a technique
will ensure that these elements are not grouped in with those that are targeted and will assist in
narrowing down the focus.
The problem should always be considered within the person-in-environment perspective and using a
strengths-based approach. It should not blame a client and/or client system for its existence.
Methods Of Involving Clients/Client Systems In Problem Identification - ANSSocial workers focus on
assisting clients to identify problems and areas of strength, as well as increasing problem-solving
strategies.
It is essential that, throughout the problem-solving process, social workers view clients as experts in their
lives.
Clients should be asked about what they would like to see changed in their lives and clients' definitions of
problems should be accepted.
,Clients should be asked about what will be different in their lives when their problems are solved. Social
workers should listen carefully for, and work hard to respect, the directions in which clients want to go
with their lives (their goals) and the words they use to express these directions.
Clients should be asked about the paths that they would like to take to make desired changes. Clients'
perceptions should be respected and clients' inner resources (strengths) should be maximized as part of
treatment.
The use of collateral sources - ANSSocial workers often use collateral sources—family, friends, other
agencies, physicians, and so on—as informants when collecting information to effectively treat clients.
These sources can provide vital information because other professionals or agencies may have treated
clients in the past. Family members and friends may also provide important information about the length
or severity of issues or problems.
Collateral information is often used when the credibility and validity of information obtained from a client
or others are questionable. For example, child custody cases are inherently characterized by biased data
within an adversarial process. Thus, it is often necessary to evaluate the integrity of information gathered
through use of collateral information.
However, social workers should always assess the credibility of collateral informants, because data from
more neutral parties has higher integrity. In addition, informants who have greater access to key
information may produce more valid data.
When an account by a collateral informant agrees with information gathered from a client, it enhances the
trustworthiness of the data collected.
Using multiple information sources (or triangulation) is an excellent method for social workers to have
accurate accounts upon which to make assessments or base interventions.
It is essential that a social worker get a client's informed consent prior to reaching out to collateral
sources. However, they can be a valuable source of data to supplement that obtained directly from a
client, as well as provide contextual or background information that a client may not know.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems - ANSThere are many psychological
tests in existence for assessment and diagnostic purposes.
,These include:
- Beck Depression Inventory
- The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
- Rorschach Inkblot Test
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
-Thematic Apperception Test
- Wechsler Intelligence Scale
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) - ANSa 21-item test, presented in multiple-choice formats, that assesses
the presence and degree of depression in adolescents and adults.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) - ANSis an objective verbal inventory designed
as a personality test for the assessment of psychopathology consisting of 550 statements, 16 of which are
repeated.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - ANSis a forced-choice, self-report inventory that attempts to classify
individuals along four theoretically independent dimensions. The first dimension is a general attitude
toward the world, either extraverted (E) or introverted (I). The second dimension, perception, is divided
between sensation (S) and intuition (N). The third dimension is that of processing. Once information is
received, it is processed in either a thinking (T) or feeling (F) style. The final dimension is judging (J) versus
perceiving (P).
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
, Rorschach Inkblot Test - ANSClient responses are used to assess perceptual reactions and other
psychological functioning. It is one of the most widely used projective tests.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale - ANSis designed for the testing of cognitive abilities. It provides verbal,
performance, and full scale scores for children and adults.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) - ANSanother widely used projective test.
It consists of a series of pictures of ambiguous scenes. Clients are asked to make up stories or fantasies
concerning what is happening, has happened, and is going to happen in the scenes, along with a
description of their thoughts and feelings. The test provides information on a client's perceptions and
imagination for use in the understanding of a client's current needs, motives, emotions, and conflicts,
both conscious and unconscious. Its use in clinical assessment is generally part of a larger battery of tests
and interview data.
Techniques And Instruments Used To Assess Clients/Client Systems:
Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC) - ANSdesigned as a measure of a child's intellectual and cognitive
ability. It has four index scales and a full scale score.
Psychological tests
(Methods To Incorporate The Results Of Psychological And Educational Tests Into Assessment) -
ANSinstruments used to measure an assortment of mental abilities and characteristics, such as
personality, achievement, intelligence, and neurological functioning. They often take the form of
questionnaires. They may be written, verbal, or pictorial tests (like the famous Rorschach test that uses
inkblot images). The tests may also be referred to as scales, surveys, screens, checklists, assessments,
measures, inventories, and so on.
Educational Tests
