Which method allows stations to detect collisions and attempt retransmission?

The method that enables stations to detect collisions and subsequently attempt retransmission is called Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD). In networks utilizing CSMA/CD, devices first check (or sense) the carrier signal to determine if the channel is free. If the channel is clear, the device can transmit its data. However, if two devices transmit simultaneously, a collision occurs.

When a collision is detected, each device involved stops transmitting immediately, sends a jamming signal to indicate the occurrence of the collision, and then waits for a random backoff period before attempting to retransmit. This collision detection mechanism is essential for maintaining efficient data transmission in half-duplex Ethernet networks, allowing the network to recover from collisions and ensure that data is not lost.

While Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) is also a method used for managing access in wireless networks, it focuses on avoiding collisions before they occur rather than detecting them post-factum. Token Ring and Ethernet refer to different network technologies, with Token Ring using a token-passing method that inherently avoids collisions, while Ethernet networks can employ CSMA/CD. Thus, the distinguishing factor for collision detection and retransmission is inherently present in CSMA/CD.