Final answer:
In a linked list implementation of a stack in Java, the pop() method returns the head node.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a linked list implementation of a stack in Java, the pop() method removes and returns the top element of the stack.
Since a linked list follows the LIFO (Last In, First Out) principle, the top element is always the head node of the linked list.
Therefore, the pop() method returns the head node of the linked list.