ASWB LSW Practice Test Bank 2025/2026: Human
Behavior, Development, DSM-5, Ethics & Social Work
Roles Explained
Which of the following is the MOST current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders used by social workers?
A.DSM-IV-TR
B.DSM-IV
C.DSM-6
D.DSM-5 - correct answer D
The DSM-5 was published in 2013 and is the current diagnostic framework
used by social workers. It has many revisions in content and format from the
DSM-IV-TR, which was used previously.
A social worker is collecting information on dynamic risk factors when
completing an assessment on a perpetrator of abuse. Which of the following
characteristics will NOT be asked about in the interview?
A.Current substance use
B.Past history of violent behavior
C.Access to weapons
,D.Living situation - correct answer B
Dynamic risk factors can be improved by interventions such as change in
living situation, treatment of psychiatric symptoms, abstaining from drug and
alcohol use, access to weapons, and so on. Static risk factors cannot be
altered (such as past offenses, history of violence, age) and, thus, should not
be the target of interventions.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
(PRWORA) created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
program. Which of the following was NOT one of the restructured elements of
this program?
A.A lifetime limit on the number of years that benefits could be paid out of
federal funds was imposed.
B.Strict work requirements to qualify for federal aid were mandated.
C.States could set their own benefit levels.
D.A block grant to the states, which removed much of the federal regulatory
authority over the design of the program, replaced a matching grant. - correct
answer C
States were allowed to set their own benefit requirements under the Aid to
Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, TANF's predecessor,
which was created in 1935 as part of the Social Security Act. There were
more restructured elements in TANF than those listed in A, B, and D.
When helping a supervisee to use empathic communication when interacting
with clients, a social worker is MOST effective by:
,A.Engaging in role playing with the supervisee to provide feedback on verbal
and nonverbal communication skills used
B.Explaining to the supervisee why clients need social work services
C.Helping the supervisee understand how service delivery is perceived from
clients' perspectives
D.Suggesting the supervisee keep a journal to record feelings that interfere
with therapeutic alliances when working with clients - correct answer A
Empathy is conveyed through both verbal and nonverbal communication.
Thus, the MOST effective technique for assisting a supervisee is one that can
assess communication in both areas. Role playing allows the social worker to
see if there is congruence between the supervisee's nonverbal actions and
verbal messages. It also will allow the supervisee to practice empathic
communication skills before having to use them with clients.
When a social worker is referred a client who is a different race or ethnicity
from his or her own, the social worker should:
A.Ask the client if he or she is comfortable working with the social worker
given these differences
B.Seek supervision and consultation to learn more about the client's race or
ethnicity
, C.Acknowledge and recognize how the racial or ethnic differences between
the social worker and client may impact on stages in the problem-solving
process
D.Refer the client to a social work colleague who shares the client's race or
ethnicity - correct answer C
The most important factor impacting on the effective treatment of clients from
different racial or ethnic backgrounds is self-awareness about how these
differences can impact on the problem-solving process. While ascertaining the
comfort level of the client may be important, as is seeking supervision and
consultation, they are not as essential as acknowledging and recognizing the
impact of these differences so that they can be considered in service delivery.
A social worker should never make the decision for a client that he or she
would be better served by a social work colleague of the same racial or ethnic
background. There are more intragroup differences than intergroup
differences among races and ethnicities. Thus, a social worker should not
assume that the racial or ethnic differences between him or her and a client
will be problematic.
A client is having trouble at her job as her boss is asking her to do tasks that
she does not feel qualified to do. The client has been afraid to say anything to
her boss as she is worried about being fired. The BEST way for a social
worker to help this client is to:
A.Assist her with conducting a job search to locate other employment that is
better suited to her qualifications
B.Help her identify resources to enhance her skills in areas in which she does
not feel qualified
C.Explore with her why she feels inadequate to perform the requested tasks
Behavior, Development, DSM-5, Ethics & Social Work
Roles Explained
Which of the following is the MOST current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders used by social workers?
A.DSM-IV-TR
B.DSM-IV
C.DSM-6
D.DSM-5 - correct answer D
The DSM-5 was published in 2013 and is the current diagnostic framework
used by social workers. It has many revisions in content and format from the
DSM-IV-TR, which was used previously.
A social worker is collecting information on dynamic risk factors when
completing an assessment on a perpetrator of abuse. Which of the following
characteristics will NOT be asked about in the interview?
A.Current substance use
B.Past history of violent behavior
C.Access to weapons
,D.Living situation - correct answer B
Dynamic risk factors can be improved by interventions such as change in
living situation, treatment of psychiatric symptoms, abstaining from drug and
alcohol use, access to weapons, and so on. Static risk factors cannot be
altered (such as past offenses, history of violence, age) and, thus, should not
be the target of interventions.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
(PRWORA) created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
program. Which of the following was NOT one of the restructured elements of
this program?
A.A lifetime limit on the number of years that benefits could be paid out of
federal funds was imposed.
B.Strict work requirements to qualify for federal aid were mandated.
C.States could set their own benefit levels.
D.A block grant to the states, which removed much of the federal regulatory
authority over the design of the program, replaced a matching grant. - correct
answer C
States were allowed to set their own benefit requirements under the Aid to
Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, TANF's predecessor,
which was created in 1935 as part of the Social Security Act. There were
more restructured elements in TANF than those listed in A, B, and D.
When helping a supervisee to use empathic communication when interacting
with clients, a social worker is MOST effective by:
,A.Engaging in role playing with the supervisee to provide feedback on verbal
and nonverbal communication skills used
B.Explaining to the supervisee why clients need social work services
C.Helping the supervisee understand how service delivery is perceived from
clients' perspectives
D.Suggesting the supervisee keep a journal to record feelings that interfere
with therapeutic alliances when working with clients - correct answer A
Empathy is conveyed through both verbal and nonverbal communication.
Thus, the MOST effective technique for assisting a supervisee is one that can
assess communication in both areas. Role playing allows the social worker to
see if there is congruence between the supervisee's nonverbal actions and
verbal messages. It also will allow the supervisee to practice empathic
communication skills before having to use them with clients.
When a social worker is referred a client who is a different race or ethnicity
from his or her own, the social worker should:
A.Ask the client if he or she is comfortable working with the social worker
given these differences
B.Seek supervision and consultation to learn more about the client's race or
ethnicity
, C.Acknowledge and recognize how the racial or ethnic differences between
the social worker and client may impact on stages in the problem-solving
process
D.Refer the client to a social work colleague who shares the client's race or
ethnicity - correct answer C
The most important factor impacting on the effective treatment of clients from
different racial or ethnic backgrounds is self-awareness about how these
differences can impact on the problem-solving process. While ascertaining the
comfort level of the client may be important, as is seeking supervision and
consultation, they are not as essential as acknowledging and recognizing the
impact of these differences so that they can be considered in service delivery.
A social worker should never make the decision for a client that he or she
would be better served by a social work colleague of the same racial or ethnic
background. There are more intragroup differences than intergroup
differences among races and ethnicities. Thus, a social worker should not
assume that the racial or ethnic differences between him or her and a client
will be problematic.
A client is having trouble at her job as her boss is asking her to do tasks that
she does not feel qualified to do. The client has been afraid to say anything to
her boss as she is worried about being fired. The BEST way for a social
worker to help this client is to:
A.Assist her with conducting a job search to locate other employment that is
better suited to her qualifications
B.Help her identify resources to enhance her skills in areas in which she does
not feel qualified
C.Explore with her why she feels inadequate to perform the requested tasks
