Using a database-specific data provider, such as SqlClient, can result in ___________ performance compared to generic providers.

The correct option is Improved. Using a database-specific data provider, like SqlClient for SQL Server databases, often results in improved performance compared to generic providers such as OLEDB. This is because database-specific providers are optimized to leverage the features and capabilities of a particular database system, leading to better efficiency and resource utilization. Generic providers may introduce additional layers of abstraction and overhead, which can impact performance negatively.