The "methods of empirical social research" are the toolbox of all researchers from which they can draw to answer a specific question. The overarching objectives are to understand and explain social phenomena and to generate new knowledge about society as a subject of investigation. The collection of techniques and methods includes procedures for data collection - such as oral or written surveys, observation methods, the recording of media content - as well as procedures for subsequent data analysis. Whether a method is suitable for investigating a social phenomenon depends on the research question and must be decided anew for each research project. Quantitative or qualitative methods may therefore be appropriate, or a multi-method approach may even be suitable. The choice and implementation of the method ultimately determine whether a research result reflects reality and is therefore meaningful or whether, in the worst case, it is a product of the method itself. However, basic knowledge of methods is not only an important prerequisite for the research process itself, but also helps in the interpretation and evaluation of other research work, even from outside the field. Related disciplines, such as economics, political science and education, make use of the same repertoire of methods to a large extent, which is why the methods of empirical social research play a central role across disciplines. Furthermore, the area of application is not limited to the scientific community: Business enterprises and public institutions or administrations collect data whose potential - for example for the management of organizations - can only be used after appropriate evaluation and correct interpretation.