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The following strategies are useful when a question seems to have two or more correct answers or addresses a topic you’re unfamiliar with.

1. Re-read the Stem and Options: Whenever a question seems to have two or three correct answers (or no correct answer), re-read the stem and the answer options. You may find that you misinterpreted the stem or that there is a single word or phrase in the stem or one of the answers that makes one answer the correct or best one.
2. Make an “Educated Guess”: There is no penalty for guessing on the ASWB exam, so it’s to your advantage to make an educated guess (or just a “guess”) when you’re truly baffled by a question. You can increase the likelihood that your guess is the correct answer by using the following techniques:

• Use the Process of Elimination: For most questions, you’ll be able to find a reason to eliminate at least one or two of the answers because the answer addresses a topic that is not relevant to the question; describes a common misconception about the topic; contains an absolute such as “always” or “never”; or is to general; or is too narrow in focus. Once you’ve eliminated one or two of the answers, you’ll be selecting an answer from a fewer number of options, which will increase your chance of choosing the correct one.
• Assume the Client Advocacy Position: For questions addressing ethical issues, your best guess is the answer that... (More)

This is a topic that can get confusing. It can be easy to mix up the two concepts, however it is important to know the differences between the two. Come back on Friday to practice with a question related to this topic below…

The concept of transference, which originated in psychoanalytic theory, is used by some social workers, particularly those who are psychodynamically oriented, as a tool for understanding and helping clients work through their past conflicts. Transference refers to emotional reactions that are assigned to current relationships but have their roots in earlier, often unresolved and unconscious experiences. For example, a client who grew up feeling hostility toward his parents may develop hostile feelings toward you even though no overt reason exists for those feelings (Barker, 2003). Transference may be either positive or negative, however: With positive transference, a client transfers affectionate feelings to his social worker; and with negative transference, a client transfers hostile feelings to his social worker.

To manage a client’s transference reaction, you may do the following:

(a) First consider the possibility that the client’s reaction is realistic.

(b) If you conclude that the client expects you to respond in countertherapeutic ways, as others in his life have, respond differently in order to disprove his expectations. The client will then have to deal with you as a real person.

(c) Help the client identify the source of his distorted perception by exploring how and why his feelings evolved. Don’t try to change his distortion immediately.... (More)