Transcript Department of Social Work

University of Texas – Pan American
Department of Social Work
Social Work License Exam
Preparation Workshop
April 19, 24 & 26, 2008
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Presenters
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Lydia Arizmendi, J.D., MSW
Sonja Arredondo, LMSW
Alonzo Cavazos, Ed.D., LCSW
Catherine Faver, Ph.D., MSW
Janis Feldman, Ph.D., LCSW
Kristina Church, MSSW
Estela Sosa-Garza, LCSW
Sharon Pittman, Ph.D.
Shirley Rombough, Ph.D., MSW
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Test Taking Strategies
April 19, 2008
9:00am – 10:00am
Alonzo Cavazos, Ed.D., LCSW
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Test Taking Strategies
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General tips
Strategies for studying for the test
Strategies for responding to questions
Other Strategies
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General Tips
• Analyze your past test results
Each test can further prepare you for the next test.
If available, use old tests to review when preparing for an exam.
• Arrive early for tests
Bring all the materials you will need such as pencils and pens, a calculator,
a dictionary, and a watch (if allowed).
This helps you focus on the task at hand.
• Be comfortable but alert
Choose a good spot and make sure you have enough room to work,
maintain comfortable posture but don't "slouch"
• Stay relaxed and think positively (be confident). Remind yourself that
you are well-prepared and are going to do well. If you find yourself
anxious, take several slow, deep breaths to relax. Don't talk about the test
to other students just before it; anxiety is contagious.
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Strategies for studying for the test
• Find a study partner OR form a study group
• Divide the material to be covered (some
content areas have more questions on the
exam)
• Share notes and information with each other
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Strategies for studying for the test
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Divide you study time among the different areas:
Priority #1 – greatest portion of the exam & with the
section that you have the least familiarity.
Priority #2 -- focus on area that makes up a lesser
portion of the exam that you know the least about.
Priority #3 – focus on greatest portion of the exam &
with which you have the greatest familiarity.
Priority #4 – focus on area that makes up a lesser
portion of the exam & that you know the most about.
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LMSW Exam Content
(section with 7% or greater)
• Direct and Indirect Practice – 22%
• HBSE – 18%
• Assessment, Diagnosis & Intervention
Planning – 11%
• Professional Values & Ethics – 11%
• Supervision, Administration, & Policy – 8%
• Diversity – 7%
• Communication – 7%
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Direct and Indirect Practice
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Intervention models and methods
The intervention process
Intervention techniques
Intervention with couples and families
Intervention with groups
Intervention with communities and larger
systems
• Consultation & interdisciplinary collaboration
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Strategies for studying for the test
(continued)
• Make sure you carefully examine each
question….watch for qualifying words such as
best, most, least likely, first step, etc.
• Skip 1st question you don’t know; move to the
next question. When you come to the 3rd
question you need to skip, go back and answer
the skipped questions.
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Test Simulation – encountering first
5 questions
1. Know the answer
2. Don’t know the answer (Skip to next
question)
3. Don’t know the answer (Skip)
4. Know the answer
5. Don’t know (return to number 2 and answer
the 3 questions that you skipped)
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Strategies for studying for the test
(continued)
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Most questions will have at least 2 “good” answers.
Do not answer a question based solely on the
practice agency where you work. Questions are
designed to cover a broad range of practice settings.
Test Question: In most states, the vast majority of
children in placement reside in:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Institutions
Foster homes
Group homes
Detention centers
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Suggestions
• Accept the question at face value (don’t
read anything into question)
• On client related questions – the client’s
safety comes first
• Your first “considered” choice is probably
the correct response
• Consider what social work principle or
theory is being tested
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If a question does not have one answer that is clearly the
correct answer, eliminate all but the two best answers. And
then…
• If an answer refers specifically to assessment, choose
this one.
• In general, do not choose an answer that contains
extreme wording such as always, never, must, etc. -- There are a few exceptions (“It is never
appropriate to engage in sexual activity with a
client.”)
• Select the answer that was your initial guess.
• If an answer has more professional wording, choose
that one.
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Focus on answer that refers
specifically to assessment
Following an initial visit to an elderly client, social worker
notifies the client that they will meet again in six weeks.
The next day and for several subsequent days the client
continues to call the worker. The client’s questions seem
contrived and trivial and do not concern significant or
pressing issues. The worker should.
a. Answer the questions and not schedule another
appointment.
b. Reflect to the client that her anxiety is causing her to
make the calls.
c. Ask the client if she would like to schedule an earlier
visit.
d. Transfer the case.
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The correct answer is “c” – ask
client if she wants earlier interview
Communication includes both manifest and
latent content. Answering the client’s
questions responds only to the manifest
content, not the underlying message that there
may be a desire for more contact.
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Test Question – professional
wording
A social worker who uses a behavioral approach to
assessment and treatment will usually be most
concerned with:
a.
Applying treatment methods that are simple to
apply and easily understood by the client.
b.
Interventions that are based on empirical research
and produce observable and measurable results.
c.
Rapid progress that encourages further change.
d.
Changing the client’s thought patterns through
repetitive exercises.
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The correct answer is “b”
• A social worker who uses a behavioral
approach to assessment and treatment will
usually be most concerned with interventions
that are based on empirical research and
produce observable and measurable results.
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Multiple choice questions usually include
a phrase or stem followed by
3 – 5 options
Test strategies:
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Read the question (directions) carefully
Know if each question has one or more correct option.
If possible, read through the entire test quickly and answer
the easiest questions first. Mark those you think you know in
some way that is appropriate.
If possible, read through the test a second time and answer
more difficult questions.
You may pick up cues for answers from the first reading, or
become more comfortable in the testing situation.
If time allows, review both questions and answers.
It is possible you mis-read questions the first time
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Answering options
Improve your odds, think
critically…
Cover the options, read the stem, and try to
answer
Select the option that most closely matches
your answer
• Read the stem with each option
Treat each option as a true-false question, and
choose the "most true"
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Test Question
a.
b.
c.
d.
In a beginning interview with a client, the
purpose of asking questions is to:
Probe the client’s unconscious feelings.
Obtain information about the presenting
problem.
Direct and focus the client’s conversation on
the client’s personal and family history.
Find out if the client really wants help.
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The correct answer is “b”
b. Obtain information about the presenting
problem.
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Understanding the presenting problem as the
client experiences it is the first step in a
social work intervention.
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Read the stem with each option
Treat each option as a true-false question
a.
b.
c.
d.
A client’s capacity to enter into a social work
relationship cannot usually be determined by
emotional and personality make-up
age
judgment
intelligence
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The Correct Answer is “b” - Age
• Most human beings, regardless of age, are
capable of entering into a relationship. Age
will more accurately reveal how the person
may enter into a relationship, based on
developmental expectations, rather than
whether they are capable of a relationship.
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Strategies to answer difficult
questions
• Eliminate options you know to be incorrect
If allowed, mark words or alternatives in questions
that eliminate the option
• Give each option of a question the "true-false
test:"
This may reduce your selection to the best answer
• Question options that grammatically don't fit with
the stem
• Question options that are totally unfamiliar to you
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Test Question
a.
b.
c.
d.
An infant showing drug withdrawal symptoms at birth is
ready for foster care placement following medical
treatment and court action. To prepare the prospective
foster parents, the social worker should
Not mention the infant’s drug background so as not to
precipitate feelings of bias.
Inform them of the infant’s drug background, and the
treatments provided, and answer any questions about the
medical issues the child may present.
Inform them that they baby may have some medical problems
and give them instructions about how to proceed.
Inform them of biological mother’s drug addiction, and that
they should not worry about any potential medical problems.
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The correct answer is “b”
b. Inform them of the infant’s drug background,
and the treatments provided, and answer any
questions about the medical issues the child may
present.
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This is both an ethical and a practice question. The
foster parents have a right to full disclosure of the
infant’s condition. Moreover, in order for them to
properly care for the child they need to have
complete information. Holding back or minimizing
is an ethical breach and is poor practice.
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Strategies to answer difficult
questions
• Question options that contain negative or absolute
words.
Try substituting a qualified term for the absolute one,
like frequently for always; or typical for every to see
if you can eliminate it
• "All of the above:"
If you know two of three options seem correct, "all of
the above" is a strong possibility
• Number answers:
toss out the high and low and consider the middle
range numbers
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Question options that contain
negative or absolute words
a.
b.
c.
d.
When considering Native American customs and
developing treatment or service plans, social workers
should understand that
all Indians have the same culture and that tribal differences
are minor.
there are important reasons why Indians never integrated into
American culture.
with more than 500 tribal groups, there are substantial
cultural and social differences among Indian groups.
it is important for Indians to separate from the traditional
culture if they want to succeed economically.
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Correct Answer is “c”
c. with more than 500 tribal groups, there
are substantial cultural and social
differences among Indian groups.
There are many similarities among Indian
groups, but there are important cultural,
geographic, economic and tribal differences
that are considered in diagnosis and treatment.
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“All of the above"
If you know two of three options seem correct, "all of the above"
is a strong possibility
a.
b.
c.
d.
Test Question
Group leaders are expected to protect
confidentiality of members by:
Clearly defining what confidentiality
means.
Explaining to members why is it important.
Discussing the difficulties involved in its
enforcement.
All of the above.
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The correct answer is “d” – all of the
above
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Number Answers:
toss out the high & low and consider the middle range
numbers
a.
b.
c.
d.
The optimum “span of control” by a
supervisor is:
1-3 persons
10-12 persons
5-9 persons
11-15 persons
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The Correct Answer is “c”
c. 5-9 persons
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Strategies to answer difficult
questions
• "Look alike options"
probably one is correct; choose the best, but eliminate choices
that mean basically the same thing, and thus cancel each other
out
• Double negatives:
Create the equivalent positive statement and consider
• Echo options:
If two options are opposite each other, chances are one of them
is correct
• Favor options that contain qualifiers
The result is longer, more inclusive items that better fill the
role of the answer
• If two alternatives seem correct,
compare them for differences,
then refer to the stem to find your best answer
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Echo options:
If two options are opposite each other, chances are one
of them is correct
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a.
b.
c.
d.
There are many different types of groups that
social workers lead. The type of group most
associated with self-improvement and
opportunities to expand self-awareness is
the therapeutic group
the socialization group
the growth group
the recreational group
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The correct answer is “c” – the growth
group
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Guessing
 Reject answers that use specific determiners such as:
everyone, always, never, etc.
 Look for grammatical inconsistencies which may
help eliminate wrong answers.
 Choose the longest, most precise answer.
 Choose the answer that is in the middle.
 Choose answers which use qualifying terms such as:
often, most, etc.
 Choose the answer which first caught your eye.
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When guessing -- choose the longest,
most precise answer
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a.
b.
c.
d.
In treating a client with a narcissistic
personality disorder, the social worker most
frequently becomes
the object of the client’s libidinal impulses.
an object of the client’s anger.
idealized by the client to fulfill functions
that have remained unfulfilled by the
client’s parents.
angered by the client’s projections.
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The correct answer is “c” --- idealized by the client to fulfill
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functions that have remained unfulfilled by the client’s parents
Narcissistic personality disorder develops,
according to Self Psychology theory, as a
result of difficulty during a time when the
child needs to feel invincible and needs to
experience the parents as perfect. In the
relationship with the worker, the client will
need to transform the worker into a parent
figure as an audience for her grandiosity, or as
a perfect parent substitute.
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Choose the answer that is in the
middle
a.
b.
c.
d.
Which condition is known to have a genetic
cause?
hypoglycemia
autism
downs syndrome
obsessive-compulsive behavior
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Correct Answer is “c”
Downs Syndrome can be detected by a prenatal test – amniocentesis. In this test,
amniotic fluid is withdrawn from the uterus
and tested for genetic abnormalities.
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More on Guessing
Rely on your first impressions.
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The answer which comes to mind first is often
correct.
Nervously reviewing questions and changing
answers can do more harm than good.
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Answering multiple choice questions: A review
• Read the question before you look at the answers.
• Come up with the answer in your head before looking at
the possible answers, this way the choices given on the
test won't throw you off or trick you.
• Eliminate answers you know aren't right.
• Read all the choices before choosing your answer.
• In "None of the above" choices, if you are certain one of
the statements is true don't choose "None of the above".
• A positive choice is more likely to be true than a negative
one.
• Usually the correct answer is the choice with the most
information.
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Direct Practice – test question
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a.
b.
c.
d.
A client’s wife calls her husband’s social worker
for information concerning her husband’s
emotional problems. The first thing the social
worker would most likely say to her would be
That the relationship is confidential and any
information would have to come from her
husband.
To probe why she was asking.
To ask her if anything has created a concern.
To suggest that she not interfere since it could
have a detrimental effect.
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Correct answer “b”
• Why is “b” the best answer?
The question stem stresses “the first thing”
Focusing on why she is calling enables the
social worker to deal with relationship and
formulate an assessment.
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Test Question
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a.
b.
c.
d.
The basic difference between social workers
and psychiatrists is
Social workers primarily use verbal methods
and interpersonal relationships to modify
attitudes and behavior.
Use of groups by social workers to facilitate
change.
The different patient populations served by
each profession.
None of the above.
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Correct answer is “a”
• Why
• Strategy – when none of above is an option, you
can rule this out if one of the choices is true.
Social workers use groups.
• Strategy – choice “b” suggests that all social
workers use groups and than on psychiatrists
use groups.
• Strategy – choice “c” not true, certainly in mental
health, the clients are the same for both social
workers and psychiatrists.
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