APA Dictionary of Psychology

empirical research concerned with forecasting future events or behavior: the assessment of variables at one point in time so as to predict a phenomenon assessed at a later point in time. For example, a researcher might collect high school data, such as grades, extracurricular activities, teacher evaluations, advanced courses taken, and standardized test scores, in order to predict such college success measures as grade-point average at graduation, awards received, and likelihood of pursuing further education. Compare explanatory research.