Empirical-statistical research methods still evoke fears, reservations, or even rejection among many students of educational science. Depending on their mood and mindset, they are perceived as difficult, unnecessary, or not appropriate to educational reality - and sometimes all of these at once. Therefore, it is crucial to design courses in this area both in content and didactics in such a way that existing prejudices are at least not reinforced, and ideally even reduced. This textbook has been developed from the long-standing teaching and research experience of both authors in various educational science contexts and exemplarily integrates theoretical foundations of science, methods of data collection, and statistical analysis. It consistently aligns with the fundamental knowledge and competencies that are essential for all students in the field today.