Questions: 4-Researching Existing Sources LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Explain how sociologists use existing source material to inform their research. Which of the following statements best describes a literature review? a.) It refers to the well-defined and clear description of the issue that is being researched in a specific study. b) It refers to the crisp and concise summary of the research that was performed. c.) It refers to analyzing the format of the citations in a study. d) It involves the in-depth analysis of published scholarly or peer-reviewed articles for a specific research topic.

The answer is d) It involves the in-depth analysis of published scholarly or peer-reviewed articles for a specific research topic.

This option describes the formulation of a research problem or question, which is a separate step in the research process. It involves clearly defining what the study aims to investigate, but it is not a literature review.

This option refers to a summary of research findings, which is typically found in the abstract or conclusion of a study. A literature review, however, is more comprehensive and involves analyzing existing research rather than summarizing one's own findings.

This option focuses on the format of citations, which is related to the technical aspects of writing and referencing in research papers. While proper citation is important, it is not the essence of a literature review.

This option accurately describes a literature review. It involves a thorough examination and synthesis of existing scholarly articles and research studies related to a specific topic. The purpose is to understand the current state of knowledge, identify gaps, and provide context for new research.