Deck 11: Forming and Assessing Social Work Groups

Question 1

Which of the following statements is true of a systems framework?​

A)​It leads to random and chaotic interactions among group members.
B)​It helps leaders to assess group processes.
C)​It involves analyzing individual problems of group members.
D)​It fails to attend to the repetitive interactions of members.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

_____ primarily focus on remediation and rehabilitation.​

A)​Educational groups
B)​Support groups
C)​Growth groups
D)​Therapy groups

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Ms. Jason, a 43-year-old who recently got divorced, feels lonely and depressed. She asks a social worker to refer her to a group comprising women who are facing similar issues. She feels that discussing her fear and anxiety would help her cope with negative feelings. In this scenario, the social worker should refer her to a(n) _____.​

A)support group​
B)​growth group
C)​educational group
D)​staff development group

Answer 3

A

Question 4

While determining a group's composition, the leader should:​

A)​include diverse members to form a heterogeneous group.
B)​ensure that the member is interested in the group's services.
C)​form a separate group for individuals who are legally mandated to join the group.
D)​decide if he or she wants to use the open format or the closed format.

Question 5

Julia, a member of a treatment group, is mostly blamed for the delay in achieving team goals. She is a slow learner and often interrupts the social workers during team sessions, asking them to repeat certain concepts. The other members find this habit very annoying and often make fun of her. Julia is playing _____.​

A)​the role of scapegoat
B)​an expressive role
C)​the role of whistleblower
D)a task-related role​

Question 6

Which of the following is an advantage of manualized curricula in treatment groups?​

A)​They cannot be misused even in the absence of group facilitation skills.
B)​They cannot be misused even in the absence of supervision or appreciation.
C)​They support research on interventions.
D)​They promote organic, empowerment-based changes that arise from members' dynamic interactions.

Question 7

Which of the following factors facilitates group cohesion and communication among members?​

A)​Diverse cultural backgrounds of members
B)​Significant homogeneity in personal characteristics
C)​Low levels of self-disclosure
D)​Large size of a group

Question 8

​The optimum size for a group with an emphasis on close relationships is:

A)​10 to 15 members.
B)​7 to 10 members.
C)​2 to 3 members.
D)​20 to 25 members.

Question 9

While formulating guidelines for preliminary treatment groups, social workers should:​

A)​focus only on nonnegotiable guidelines.
B)​avoid nonnegotiable requirements at all costs.
C)​not include team members in the formulation process.
D)​adopt the decision by consensus.

Question 10

Identify a true statement about treatment groups.​

A)​Member roles are assigned by social workers in treatment groups.
B)​Proceedings in treatment groups are open to the public.
C)​Self-disclosure is expected to be high in treatment groups.
D)​In treatment groups, the focus is on a particular group as a whole as the unit of change.

Question 11

A group of individuals who suffer from obesity form a social work group. The group members lead the group, and the group does not include a social worker or a professional leader. This group is an example of a(n) _____.​

A)​treatment group
B)​task group
C)​self-help group
D)​advisory group

Question 12

Unlike in task groups, in treatment groups:​

A)​self-disclosure is low.
B)​member roles evolve as a result of interaction.
C)proceedings may be private or open to the public.​
D)​member roles are assigned by a coordinator.

Question 13

Programming in groups refers to the:​

A)​processes related to the identification of potential members for treatment groups.
B)​screening processes for group composition.
C)​activities or exercises that are used to meet group goals.
D)​steps taken by treatment groups to maintain diversity among group members.

Question 14

Which of the following is a reason why attempts to formulate guidelines for preliminary treatment groups fail?​

A)​Discussing group guidelines only superficially
B)​Intervening to make negotiated behaviors normative
C)​Framing guidelines based on decision by consensus
D)​Involving group members in framing guidelines

Question 15

Conducting individual interviews with potential members before convening a treatment group primarily serves the purpose of:​

A)​counselling the depressed group members.
B)​ensuring that the intervention approach succeeds.
C)​understanding the members' behaviors.
D)​reducing responsibility on the part of the social worker.

Question 16

Functional behaviors displayed by members in a treatment group:​

A)​erode the capacities of other members.
B)​fluctuate and are never constant.
C)​enhance the well-being of individual members at the cost of hampering group goals.
D)​enhance the quality of group relationships.

Question 17

Which of the following is an advantage of having pregroup meetings with potential members of a treatment group?​

A)​The group leader can maintain cultural diversity within the group.
B)​The group leader can ensure that he or she is not blamed if the intervention fails.
C)​It helps establish a rapport between the group leader and the potential members.
D)​It ensures the success of the intervention approach.

Question 18

To enhance the likelihood that group members in a treatment group adhere to group guidelines, it is important to:​

A)​brainstorm possible guidelines with group members.
B)​discuss group guidelines only superficially.
C)​threaten the members with the fear of expulsion if they violate the guidelines.
D)​communicate that all the guidelines are nonnegotiable.

Question 19

After establishing the purpose of a treatment group, the immediate next step is to:​

A)​decide on the leadership of the group.
B)​identify the need for the group.
C)​obtain the members' perspective on the purpose.
D)​conduct preliminary interviews.

Question 20

In the first session of a treatment group, a social worker invites its members to discuss their reasons for joining the group. The invitation by the social worker is most likely intended to:​

A)​assess the motivation levels of group members.
B)​facilitate cohesion among group members.
C)​clarify the group's purpose.
D)​determine group composition.

Question 21

Which of the following is an example of functional group behavior?​

A)​Members being critical and evaluative of each other
B)​Members openly communicating about personal feelings
C)​Members focusing on others rather than on themselves
D)​Members resisting talking about the here and now or addressing personal or group problems

Question 22

Discuss the concepts of functional and dysfunctional behaviors. How can a group leader help group members in a treatment group become aware of their patterned behavior?

Question 23

Lydia, a teenage member of a task group, reports feelings of intense depression and anxiety. She openly discusses hurtful messages she receives from her boyfriend. In this scenario, Lydia exhibits a:​

A)​personality disorder.
B)​functional pattern.
C)​passive-aggressive attitude.
D)​dysfunctional behavioral pattern.

Question 24

​When social workers assess a treatment group's patterned behavior, they need to:

A)​encourage other members to adopt a dysfunctional pattern of behavior.
B)​identify the current capacity of members to share power and resources.
C)​identify problem-solving methods that lead to a win-lose solution.
D)​discourage the culture of forming subgroups within the group.

Question 25

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of group co-leadership. Discuss the strategies required to ensure effective co-leadership.

Question 26

In the context of treatment groups, describe the advantages and disadvantages of closed groups.

Question 27

What are manualized curricula? Discuss their advantages and disadvantages.

Question 28

In treatment groups, an important part of informed consent involves:​

A)​including the members of the group in the process of formulating guidelines.
B)screening potential group members based on their cultural background and ethnicity.
C)​explaining to a member that a social worker is committed to maintaining the member's privacy.
D)interviewing potential group members to establish a rapport with the members.​

Question 29

Which of the following is necessary when constructing a treatment group to address a particular problem or assist a particular population?​

A)Assignment of the role of scapegoat to appropriate group member​
B)​Awareness of group culture
C)​Existence of heterogeneity among members
D)​Existence of nonfunctional behavioral patterns among group members

Question 30

_____ are regulatory mechanisms that give groups a measure of stability and predictability by letting members know what they can expect from the group and from one another.​

A)Agendas​
B)​Norms
C)​Curricula
D)​Patterns

Question 31

Discuss the importance of preliminary interviews with potential group members in treatment groups. What should social workers accomplish in those interviews?

Question 32

A sociogram graphically depicts:​

A)​rigid organizational structure that groups follow.
B)​the level of commitment of a group in accomplishing a task.
C)​the number of potential members who need to join treatment groups in an area.
D)​patterned affiliations and relationships between group members.