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Chapter 6: Values and Ethics in Social Work Practice
1. Which BEST illustrates an example of an ethical dilemma?
a. a social worker violates an ethical standard
b. a social worker doesn't understand an ethical standard
c. a social worker must choose between at two conflicting ethical standards
d. none of the above
C (page 125)
2. A value can BEST be defined as:
a. a society’s system of beliefs, principles, and traditions that guide behaviors and practices
b. a system of moral principles and perceptions about right versus wrong
c. customs considered desirable by a culture
d. the National Association of Social Worker's Code of Ethics
A (page 126)
3. The BEST definition of ethics is:
a. a society’s system of beliefs, principles, and traditions that guide behaviors and practices
b. the National Association of Social Worker's Code of Ethics
c. customs considered desirable by a culture
d. a system of moral principles and perceptions about right versus wrong
D (page 126)
4. The social worker does not attempt to change the client system by imposing her or his values on the
client system, but instead strives to:
a. ignore them
b. understand and respect the client values
c. negotiate a middle ground
d. convince them to do what you think is right
B (page 127)
5. Having insight into the client's value system can help the social worker to:
a. predict future events
b. comply with state and federal regulations
c. understand the client’s decision-making processes, choices, and behaviors
d. evaluate the client's values and ethics
C (page 127)
6. Ultimate values are:
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a.
b.
c.
d.
those broad-based, societal values that guide a group's long term aims
specific, short-term values that relate to policies and rights
those that assist the social worker to embrace and put into use the values of the client
those values that are directed toward the process of attaining a desirable end through desirable
means
A (page 128)
7. Proximate values are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
those broad-based, societal values that guide a group's long term aims
specific, short-term values that relate to policies and rights
those that assist the social worker to embrace and put into use the values of the client
those values that are directed toward the process of attaining a desirable end through desirable
means
B (page 128)
8. Instrumental values are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
those broad-based, societal values that guide a group's long term aims
specific, short-term values that relate to policies and rights
those that assist the social worker to embrace and put into use the values of the client
those values that are directed toward the process of attaining a desirable end through desirable
means
D (page 128)
9. Value conflicts occur when:
a. the social worker's value system comes in conflict with the duties of the employer
b. the social worker doesn't understand an ethical standard
c. the social worker must choose between two conflicting ethical standards
d. the social worker's values clash with a client, agency, coworker, or society
D (page 129)
10. Catholic Social Services has established an explicit policy which states that under no circumstances
are professional staff permitted to address or refer clients for an abortion. A non-Catholic and prochoice social worker is hired at Catholic Social Services. On the first day of employment, the social
worker is assigned to a client who appears to want to consider an abortion. Which of the following
BEST describes this situation?
a. ethical dilemma
b. value conflict
c. religious conflict
d. policy conflict
B (based on value conflict concept, page 129)
11. Value clarification is the process of exploring
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a. a client's intent to commit crimes against society
b. society's discriminative values that are systematically directed to all populations of risk
c. one's own values and comparing them to others
d. the subconscious motives of a client whose culture is quite different from the social worker
C (page 131)
12. By definition, a code of ethics is:
a. a document established over time on the basis of case law and the outcomes of various
malpractice lawsuits
b. a document that provides specific guidelines for appropriate and expected professional behavior
c. one's own value system
d. an internal process hidden deep within the subconscious of every human being
B (page 132)
13. Which of the following is a premise upon which the Enhanced Ethical Decision-Making Matrix is
based?
a. first explore all options before taking action
b. recognize one’s own personal values and biases
c. evaluate the effectiveness of the action
d. all of the above
D (page 137)
14. A key to establishing a trusting relationship is for the social worker to respect the client’s
a. confidentiality
b. defense mechanisms
c. parents and family
d. all of the above
A (page 140)
15. What is included as a part of informed consent?
a. the client or his or her guardian must give written permission
b. the client must know what specific information is going to be shared
c. the client must know the reasons for sharing the information
d. the client must know a time limit for when the information can be shared
e. all of the above
E (page 140)
16. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (better known as HIPAA) is designed
to:
a. detect child abuse
b. oversee the proper usage of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
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c. protect the rights of consumers of health related services
d. monitor the use of health care
C (page 141)
17. A bedridden, but intellectually competent elderly woman is living alone in an apartment in a large
city. Because she is not able to leave her bed on her own, she is often forced the lay in her own
waste for a couple of days. A BSW social worker insists that the woman be admitted to a nursing
home, but the client refuses. What is the major social work value that is the centerpiece of this
scenario?
a. knowing what is in the best interests for the client
b. dual relationships
c. the right to self-determination
d. knowledge of community standards for local nursing homes
C (page 142)
18. Boundaries are difficult to delineate in social work practice because:
a. when clients share private information, the relationship appears personal and intimate
b. jurisdictional regulations always conflict with social work values and ethics
c. the boundaries have no concrete definitions to identify when they exist
d. there is always a conflict of interest that affects the role of the social worker
A (pages 142-143)
19. Which is an acceptable strategy to help decide if self-disclosure is an appropriate technique?
a. knowing the agency’s policies on the use of self-disclosure
b. assessing the appropriateness, benefits, and cost of sharing such information
c. consulting with colleagues and supervisors regarding the use of self-disclosure
d. all of the above
e. never; none of the above strategies are appropriate
D (page 143)
20. Which is MOST likely to confront a social worker when she or he is faced with too few resources for
too many clients?
a. ethical dilemma
b. intellectualization
c. child abuse
d. dual relationships
A (pages 144)
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21. Identify the six key areas of the NASW Code of Ethics that provide guidelines for professional
conduct.
clients, colleagues, practice setting or workplace, professionalism, the profession, broader society
(pages 134-135)
22. Discuss how social workers deal with differences between their own personal values and the values
of their clients.
(pages 138-144)
23. What questions can the social worker ask oneself in the process of clarifying values?
What do I think about the issue? What are the origins of my values on this issue? What are the
other person’s values on this issue? Are our values similar or different? If they are different, does
this difference create a dilemma for me? For the two of us? (pages 131-132)
24. Identify the six cores values of the social work profession.
Service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships,
integrity, competence (page 133)
25. Describe two purposes of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.
Identify core values in which social work’s mission is based. Summarize broad ethical principles
that reflect the profession’s core values and serve as the basis for a set of specific ethical
standards to guide social work practice. Help social workers identify relevant considerations when
professional obligations conflict or ethical uncertainties arise. Provide ethical standards to which
the general public can hold the social work profession accountable. Socialize practitioners new to
the field to its mission, values, ethical principles, and standards. Articulate standards that the
social work profession itself can use to assess whether social workers have engaged in unethical
conduct. (page 133)
26. A social worker MUST breach confidentiality under which two conditions?
In cases of suspected abuse of children, older adults, or persons with disabilities social workers are
mandated to report the suspected abuse to the state agency. In cases in which a person threatens
harm to self or others, the social worker must report to the designated authority. (page 140)