Final answer:
To improve research effectiveness, be specific about the demographic (age, nationality), subject focus (e.g., STEM), and the measurement tool (e.g., GPA). This refinement facilitates a targeted investigation and clearer results.
Step-by-step explanation:
To create a more effective research question, option d, including specifics of age, subject, and measurement tool, is recommended. Specifying these factors would sharpen the focus of the research and enhance the precision of the results. For example, the question could be refined to: 'How does participation in varsity sports affect the academic performance of American students aged 18-22 in STEM subjects, as measured by GPA?'
By defining the age range, focusing on a particular group of students (American students), narrowing down the subject area to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and clearly stating the measurement tool (GPA), the research question becomes more targeted. This more nuanced question allows for a more thorough and specific investigation, such as identifying whether there's a correlation between sports participation and academic success in a particular demographic and subject matter, which could then inform policies or strategies to support student-athletes' academic achievements.