Which term describes the act of making an assessment based on factual evidence?

The term that best describes the act of making an assessment based on factual evidence is "empirical." This word refers to knowledge or conclusions derived from observation and experimentation rather than theory or supposition. Empirical assessments are rooted in tangible data, which allows for grounded and verifiable conclusions about the subject in question.

By relying on factual evidence, empirical analysis helps ensure that the outcomes are reliable and valid, providing a strong foundation for making informed decisions. This method is critical in many fields, including science, social studies, and data analytics, where the objective is to draw accurate insights based on observable phenomena rather than opinions or conjectures.

In contrast, the other terms lack this grounding in factual evidence: speculative involves forming theories without firm evidence; assumptive relates to taking things for granted without verification; and fictional describes something that is not real or based on imagination rather than facts. Thus, the choice of "empirical" is the most fitting in the context of making assessments based on factual evidence.