Answer

Evaluating Use of Literature and Problem Statement   

Forster, M., Grigsby, T. J., Unger, J. B., & Sussman, S. (2015). Associations between gun violence exposure, gang associations, and youth aggression: Implications for prevention and intervention programs. Journal of Criminology, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/963750

Forster, Grigsby, Unger, and Sussman (2015) present a research study exploring the case of gun violence in relation to aspects such as youth aggression. The author relied on the effective use of literature to generate an understanding of the topic. This paper presents an evaluation of the use of literature and the problem statement to provide an understanding of the importance of the study.

Evaluating the Use of Literature

            The author’s study was published in 2015. Therefore, the author ought to have utilized studies published within the last 5 years, that is from 2010 to 2015. However, it is evident that some of the literature implemented in the study was published even as early as 1996. Failure to use current literature for the study suggests that the findings of the research may be inaccurate due to the changes likely to have been experienced over time. According to Writing@CSU, (2021), when researchers rely on the use of current sources for their literature review, a notion is generated that the study is up to date with the topic. The date of a literature publication will determine the validity of the relayed information and its accuracy to be utilized by the other researchers (Writing@CSU, 2021).

Research Problem Evaluation

            The research problem in the article relays that a link exists between the level of community violence exposure, delinquent peer associations, family problems, and the existing behavioral and interpersonal problems recorded by an individual. The statement fails to convey how the study will address the problem. On the contrary, the statement only provides an emphasis on the factors that have increased the rates of aggression experienced by people from different family settings by outlining several styles that have been implemented by the affected families to build on instances of aggression. An effective problem statement should not only outline the research problem but also present details about why it exists and how it should be solved (Sheffield, 2021).

Justified and Grounded Research Study

            A research study is justified in literature if it refers to the research rationale or presents a reason why the study is being conducted. Justifying research in literature also involves generating the reasons why the study is being conducted alongside the explanation for the research method and design implemented within the study (UNF, 2021). A study that is grounded in literature is associated with solid evidence which seeks to modify the previously conducted research findings. Moreover, a grounded study provides a fundamental basis for future studies. Therefore, it is accurate to derive that the research by Forster, Grigsby, Unger, and Sussman (2015) is justified and grounded in the literature.

            Being original provides that the findings of the study have the capacity to contribute towards a new body of knowledge (UNF, 2021). This factor can be attained through the evaluation of the information provided by the experts in the field. In some instances, the originality of research cannot be achieved immediately and it may take years before it is recognized. The work of Forster, Grigsby, Unger, and Sussman (2015) is considered original since expert opinions associated with gun violence and youth violence have been included in the research.