Abstract: The matter under research is the first stage of writing a dissertation thesis on criminal law, i.e. the research program. The authors of the article analyze structural elements of the Program. The authors focus on particular issues that arise in the process of defining the matter of the research, interpretation of terms and planning. They give recommendations on how to improve the methodology and procedure of a sociological research. Special attention is paid to the issues that arise in the process of collection of empirical material, preparation of questionnaries, validity of results, processing and analysis of primary sociological information. To achieve their research targets, the authors have applied such research methods as analysis, synthesis, and formal law methods. The novelty of the research is caused by the fact that this research is the first one to be devoted to the methodology of sociological research in criminal law. As a result of their research, the authors conclude that a survey in criminal research should be aimed at proving or disproving theoretical provisions of criminal law. 

Keywords: concept interpretation, hypothesis, scientific problem, research program, sociological research, thesis, criminal law, empirical base, object of study, subject of study

Abstract: The article is devoted to the topics and main results of researches that have been carried out at Max Planck Institute of Foreign and International Law (Freiburg, Germany) over the last twenty years (taking into account previous researches of fellows of the Institute in cooperation with foreign specialists and experts). The material provided completes the picture of topical issues that arise in the process of fighting against the most dangerous crimes, traditional and new ones (piracy, cybercrime, youth and migration crime and many others) as well as gives an insight into approaches to goals and tasks of criminal and criminal law sciences in the global society. Information content in the article will allow Russian specialists to take into account experience of Germany and to to get an idea of actual goals and tasks (both theoretical and practical ones) faced by lawyers of other countries and continents, in particular, Latin America, Southeast Asia, Africa, USA and etc. To describe the research results, the author has used the methods of comparative legal science, logical structural analysis, historical approach and docmatics as well as information that has been published by mass media. From the theoretical point of view, the main benefit of this research is that information presented in this article will allow to compare foreign and Russian approaches to interpretation of the most significant problems of modern criminal law and studies. From the practical point of view, the results can be used to plan furthe research in criminal law and science. 

Keywords: piracy, police, cybercrime, science, criminology, law, security, doctrine, crime, criminality

Abstract: The subject of this research is the analysis of scientific studies in the sphere of consumer protection, which are devoted not only to general theoretical aspects of the problem, but also to its specific spheres which fall under the of force of law of the Russian Federation “On consumer protection”. The authors report statistical data about the research in the field of consumer protection. This analysis had been held in historical perspective. The article shows the changes in the amount of research in this field. The authors are the first who systematized scientific works in the sphere of consumer protection according to various criteria in the particular period of time (2013 – 2014). The authors had used the methods of analysis, synthesis, the formal-juridical and chronological methods of scientific cognition. The authors had come to the conclusion that the studies in the sphere of consumer protection are of a very dynamic orientation. Moreover, it is significant that consumer protection, as a subject of a scientific research, is of a big interest not only for legal scholars, but also for specialists in other scientific spheres. 

Keywords: way of protection, scientific article, court, scientific research , consumer protection , consumer, doctrine, efficiency of use, theory of protection of rights, electronic library