Predictors are variables or factors that are used to forecast or estimate future outcomes or events. In research, predictors are often used in statistical models to identify and understand the relationships between different variables and to make predictions about future outcomes based on available data. Predictors can be used in various fields such as psychology, economics, epidemiology, and social sciences to study and understand the patterns, trends, and correlations in data. By analyzing predictors, researchers can gain insights into how different factors influence and contribute to specific outcomes or phenomena.