Study Guide

Field 238: School Social Worker  
Sample Multiple-Choice Questions

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Each multiple-choice question has four answer choices. Read each question and its answer choices carefully and choose the ONE best answer.

During the test you should try to answer all questions. Even if you are unsure of an answer, it is better to guess than not to answer a question at all. You will NOT be penalized for choosing an incorrect response.

Objective 0001
Understand human development and learning.

1. Which of the following students is most clearly demonstrating strength in the area of practical intelligence?

  1. Sanjay experiments with different textures and patterns during a painting unit in art class.
  2. Ahna systematically observes how different variables affect plant growth for a science experiment.
  3. Jason takes detailed notes during instruction and highlights important vocabulary in his notes.
  4. Yolanda applies geometry and measurement concepts to construct a scale model of the school.
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
Robert J. Sternberg proposes three intelligences in human cognition. Practical intelligence is defined as how well a person can apply the analytic intelligence (i.e., ability to process information and solve problems) they possess in many different situations.
Objective 0002
Understand cultural competence and strategies for supporting diversity.

2. Students who attend schools where teachers and staff reflect students' cultural and racial characteristics generally experience enhanced:

  1. identity development.
  2. social interactions.
  3. peer relationships.
  4. self-management skills.
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Identity formation is a process that takes many years and role models are crucial in the formation of identity. When students have the opportunity to have role models who share their racial, cultural, and linguistic characteristics, they are better able to work through the process of identity formation.
Objective 0002
Understand cultural competence and strategies for supporting diversity.

3. Which of the following elements of the educational environment is most essential in supporting second-language acquisition?

  1. regular, structured opportunities to recite new vocabulary in the second language
  2. ongoing feedback on appropriate pronunciation and syntax in the second language
  3. frequent, multisensory exposure to comprehensible input in the second language
  4. explicit instruction in the grammar and mechanics of the second language
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Input is language that the student either hears or reads that aims at communicating something. For input to promote second-language learning, it must be comprehensible. Comprehensible input allows students to figure things out by themselves using the context and background provided. When students can understand the meaning of some words but can't interpret others, the knowledge of the background or context can point them in the direction of the unknown words. Over time, students will become adept at using these techniques to interpret words by themselves, which broadens their understanding of the target language.
Objective 0003
Understand methods of school social work practice with individuals and groups.

4. A school social worker will be providing individual counseling for a fourth-grade student with generalized anxiety disorder. The student performs slightly above grade level, but consistently demonstrates undue concern and fretting behaviors related to school assignments and assessments, including hypervigilance about due dates, grades, and work quality. Appropriate interventions for this student should include which of the following elements?

  1. working with the student's teachers to increase their use of ungraded learning tasks
  2. helping the student develop concrete strategies for coping with key stressors
  3. instituting daily check-ins with a teacher for the student to review progress
  4. enhancing the student's ability to communicate concerns effectively
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
Coping strategies, such as deep breathing and exercise, are commonly used to address the symptoms of anxiety. Concrete coping strategies that are directly related to the anxiety-causing issues provide the individual with tools to use that can help minimize feelings of anxiety. For example, keeping a calendar and using rubrics are two strategies for addressing anxiety related to due dates and work quality.
Objective 0003
Understand methods of school social work practice with individuals and groups.

5. Which of the following approaches would be most appropriate for a school social worker to emphasize when members of a small group begin having disagreements and challenging the process during sessions?

  1. discontinuing group sessions temporarily to give group members an opportunity to cool off
  2. enforcing the ground rules established by the group and refocusing members on the goals of the group
  3. inviting a third party, such as an administrator, to attend a session to observe and provide members with feedback
  4. providing the group with an icebreaker activity designed to help them get to know each other better
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
Groups go through various stages. The stage in which students begin challenging the process and one another is commonly known as "storming" and tends to occur once group members have become familiar with each other and the process and have already established ground rules for group processes. To move the students toward the next stage, known as "performing," the school social worker should work to redirect their attention and efforts back to the original goals of the group and remind them of ground rules that they have already agreed to.
Objective 0004
Understand methods of school social work practice with home, school, and community systems.

6. A school social worker has been working with a student who displays aggressive behavior that is interfering with other students' ability to learn despite different interventions by the teacher. Based on the social learning theory, the school social worker should employ which of the following strategies?

  1. collaborating with the student's teachers to evaluate current behavioral intervention techniques
  2. reviewing the student's school records to obtain further information about the history of the behavior
  3. identifying role models that the student is regularly exposed to who could be reinforcing the behavior
  4. scheduling a meeting with the student's parents/guardians to discuss the behavioral concerns
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Social learning theory, theorized by Albert Bandura, posits that people learn from one another through observation, imitation, and modeling. People learn not only by observing others' behavior and attitudes, but also by observing the outcomes of those behaviors and attitudes.
Objective 0004
Understand methods of school social work practice with home, school, and community systems.

7. Which of the following roles does a school social worker typically fulfill with regard to the education of a student who receives services through several outside agencies?

  1. acting as a liaison to all relevant collateral contacts to meet the student's educational needs
  2. assembling pertinent information about the school curriculum for the student's parents/guardians
  3. reporting assessment data to the student support team on the student's educational progress
  4. identifying alternative instructional methods and materials to individuals who work with the student
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
The school social worker's role in working with outside providers is one of coordination. The school social worker is usually the primary contact for providers with the school and the student's educational support team. It is not the school social worker's role to prescribe specific services or instructional approaches, nor is it the school social worker's role to simply serve as a conduit for information from one party to another.
Objective 0005
Understand principles of measurement, assessment, and evaluation and methods for evaluating a student's social/emotional health, mental health, and overall functioning.

8. In an assessment context, the concept of cultural loading refers to the:

  1. administration of unique test forms that are responsive to different cultures.
  2. extent to which a test requires knowledge of and experience with the dominant culture.
  3. provision of culturally based special accommodations for a test.
  4. understanding that individuals view test questions through a personal cultural lens.
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
Cultural loading is the degree to which a test or item is specific to a particular culture, usually the dominant culture. A test with greater cultural loading has greater potential bias when administered to people of diverse cultures.
Objective 0005
Understand principles of measurement, assessment, and evaluation and methods for evaluating a student's social/emotional health, mental health, and overall functioning.

9. The mean, median, and mode of the scores on an assessment are all equal. This characteristic represents a:

  1. normal distribution of assessment data.
  2. positive correlation between validity and reliability.
  3. small standard error of measurement.
  4. wide confidence interval for a true score on the assessment.
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Normal distributions are symmetric, unimodal, and asymptotic, and the mean, median, and mode are all equal. A normal distribution is perfectly symmetrical around its center. That is, the right side of the center is a mirror image of the left side, representing what is generally known as a bell curve.
Objective 0006
Understand the use of assessment to develop interventions to support students' emotional/mental health, learning, and ability to function successfully in the educational setting.

10. An educational team has completed a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) for a five-year-old kindergarten student who is eligible for special education services under the category of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The educational team has collected information about events that are occurring in the student's educational environment and identified causes of the student's problem behaviors. Which of the following steps would be most appropriate to take next in addressing the student's behavioral needs in school?

  1. gathering antecedent-behavior-consequence (ABC) data
  2. completing an adaptive behavior assessment
  3. researching Positive Behavior Support (PBS) strategies
  4. developing a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
A functional behavior assessment (FBA) can help figure out the cause of problem behaviors. A behavior intervention plan (BIP) is a plan that's based on the FBA. A BIP can help replace problem behaviors with more positive ones. The BIP describes the problem behavior, the reasons the behavior occurs, and the intervention strategies that will be used to address the problem behavior.
Objective 0006
Understand the use of assessment to develop interventions to support students' emotional/mental health, learning, and ability to function successfully in the educational setting.

11. An 18-year-old high school student who has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is due for a reevaluation of special education services. At the special education conference the previous year, the school notified the student and the student's parents/guardians of the transfer of rights in writing and provided them with a Delegation of Rights form. The student has not submitted the Delegation of Rights form. In addition, the student has indicated that he does not want to participate in the reevaluation of special education services. Based on this information, which of the following statements best describes the student's rights in the reevaluation process?

  1. Input into the reevaluation will be delegated to outside agencies working with the student.
  2. Responses to reevaluation notices is the responsibility of the student's parents/guardians.
  3. The decision of whether or not to participate in the reevaluation process is the student's.
  4. Decisions about the reevaluation process fall primarily to the student's school.
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
The reevaluation process will proceed according to the legal mandate, which is that the IEP team makes a determination about the continuation of services as well as any changes to the services provided. Though it is the student's right to participate in the decision-making process, there is no legal mandate requiring the student's participation.
Objective 0007
Understand strategies for promoting a healthy learning community.

12. A primary purpose of peer mediation programs is to:

  1. identify students who may require formal interventions to address conflicts.
  2. enable administrators to work directly with students to resolve conflicts.
  3. teach students how to resolve conflicts in conjunction with school adults.
  4. support students in independently resolving interpersonal conflicts.
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
Peer mediation is a form of conflict resolution in which trained student leaders help their peers work together to resolve everyday disputes. In peer mediation, a trained student acts as neutral mediator helping parties in conflict to understand the root causes of their dispute and to ultimately agree on a plan for resolving the conflict.
Objective 0007
Understand strategies for promoting a healthy learning community.

13. A middle school team, led by the school social worker, implemented a community involvement program for students. Students in each grade level choose a community group or initiative in which to participate throughout the school year. For example, sixth-grade students chose to participate in activities for the community food bank. As the school year draws to a close, the team would like to evaluate the program's effectiveness. The team can best evaluate the program's effectiveness by gathering data that focuses primarily on which of the following questions?

  1. In what ways did program activities change during the course of the school year?
  2. Did student participation levels vary according to grade level?
  3. What effects did the program have on the students and on the targeted community need?
  4. Was the program well-accepted by school staff and community partners?
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Judging the effectiveness of a program involves gathering outcome data. Outcome data reveals changes in program participants and/or recipients of services as a result of program activities. Positive outcome data generally means that one or more of the program's activities, services, or areas of focus were effective in promoting desired results.
Objective 0008
Understand organizational principles and the planning and management of educational and school social work services.

14. A new school social worker who wants to act as an effective change agent in the school should begin by taking which of the following actions?

  1. learning about the roles and functions of school personnel and how the school currently makes decisions
  2. analyzing the results of previous family and staff surveys about current school programs and services
  3. conducting observations in various areas of the school to assess the overall school climate
  4. working with interested staff and other stakeholders to revise the school's vision and mission statements
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
A school is a system in which various individuals play different roles and have different functions in implementing the school's mission and programs. It is important for the school social worker to know first what these roles and functions are in order to effectively advocate for and implement changes to the system.
Objective 0008
Understand organizational principles and the planning and management of educational and school social work services.

15. A school social worker can best promote effective utilization of school social work services by taking which of the following actions?

  1. digitizing the process of submitting referrals for and accessing social work services
  2. distributing weekly fact sheets to staff spotlighting a specific social work service and its role in the school environment
  3. working with other social workers to centralize procedures for requesting services at the district level
  4. ensuring that members of the school community have a clear understanding of available social work services and how to access them
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
School social work services should be tailored to the needs of the specific school population and community. Members of the school community will be unable to make effective use of services unless they understand what services are available and how to request or access the services they need. Needs may go unaddressed without adequate knowledge in these areas.
Objective 0009
Understand the principles, processes, and practices of effective communication, consultation, and collaboration.

16. A high school junior tells the school social worker that he is feeling stressed by all of the decisions facing him as he leaves high school and prepares for college. The student cites college entrance exams, financial worries, upcoming senior projects, and part-time employment. Which of the following responses to the student's concerns by the social worker best illustrates the use of empathy?

  1. "I'm sorry to hear this. Have you talked to your parents?"
  2. "It sounds like you have a lot going on. Is there anything I can do to help?"
  3. "Hang in there. I know you'll figure things out."
  4. "Sometimes it helps to take a break from worrying and do something fun."
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
The dictionary defines empathy as the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another. In this case, the school social worker is acknowledging and describing the student's situation in an understanding way and offering assistance without giving advice.
Objective 0010
Understand professional ethics, advocacy, and facilitation for the school social worker.

17. A school social worker's caseload includes a ninth-grade student who has been experiencing homelessness for several weeks. The students' guardians recently kicked the student out of the home. The student stayed with friends for two weeks, but has been living on the street for the last two months. The school social worker can best facilitate the student's access to appropriate resources and services by taking which of the following actions?

  1. meeting with the student's teachers to discuss the student's situation and adapt academic expectations accordingly
  2. providing the student with a list of homeless shelters and other organizations that the student can contact for support
  3. interviewing the student to identify an extended family member or friend who could possibly provide support
  4. working with the district's homeless liaison to identify and implement processes for acquiring needed supports
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
The McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act stipulates that every local education agency will designate a local liaison. The local liaison serves as one of the primary contacts between homeless families and school staff, district personnel, shelter workers, and other service providers. The liaison coordinates services to ensure that homeless children and youths enroll in school and have the opportunity to succeed academically. By working directly with the liaison, the school social worker can effectively facilitate access to needed services.
Objective 0010
Understand professional ethics, advocacy, and facilitation for the school social worker.

18. A school social worker would most appropriately refer a student who is experiencing which of the following issues to an outside agency?

  1. substance abuse
  2. verbal aggression toward peers
  3. chronic absenteeism
  4. persistent lack of motivation
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
School social workers are not trained to provide treatment or intervention for substance abuse or addiction. The school social worker has an obligation to provide referrals to outside providers or specialists for issues that fall outside their scope of practice.
Objective 0011
Understand professional development for the school social worker.

19. Which of the following activities would best provide a school social worker with a framework for systemic inquiry and positive change?

  1. regular participation in state and national conferences
  2. self-directed professional development
  3. frequent analysis of changes in local demographics
  4. practice-informed research
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
Practice-informed research is the process of using practice experience to inform research and using research findings to improve practice and school social work service delivery. Practice-informed research involves analyzing quantitative and qualitative research and applying the scientific inquiry process to systemic issues.
Objective 0011
Understand professional development for the school social worker.

20. Which of the following statements describes the most important reason for a school social worker to adopt effective self-care strategies?

  1. The development of self-care strategies requires school social workers to reflect on their professional practice.
  2. School social workers who are in a state of burnout are less able to identify and address liabilities to students' success.
  3. School social workers have a professional responsibility to model appropriate personal behaviors for colleagues.
  4. The development of self-care strategies helps school social workers better understand the challenges students may be experiencing.
Answer and Rationale. Enter to expand or collapse. Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
Self-care is an essential school social work survival skill. Self-care refers to activities and practices that reduce stress and maintain and enhance short- and long-term health and well-being when used on a regular basis. Self-care is necessary to prevent burnout and to help ensure effectiveness and success in honoring professional commitment to high-quality and responsive services.