The article discusses the research approaches and methods of Austrian authors Marie Jahoda, Hans Ziesel and Paul Lazarsfeld concerning a community of the unemployed. The results of their research were published in a book called „The Unemployed from Marienthal“ (Die Arbeitslosen von Marienthal), which first appeared in Leipzig in 1933. The article draws attention to the unique research procedures representing a combination of quantitative (statistical data) and qualitative (biographical approaches) methods and personally engaged observations. This close relationship between the authors and the life experience of the unemployed contributed to a deeper understanding of the studied phenomenon of unemployment. Their research methods, including the engaged observations, are inspiring even today when studying the consequences of involuntary job loss.