This article discusses the development of academic research in the LIS domain and the purpose of LIS research. It is argued that there are several constituent parts of the research tradition, both theoretical and empirical, and that this has created tensions and misunderstandings between researchers and practitioners. Against this background, the impact of the Research Assessment Exercises since 1988, and especially the implications of the outcome of RAE 2008, are analysed and discussed. Sources of funding, and the roles of various stakeholder bodies in the research process, are also discussed. It is concluded that in the UK, LIS research has been absorbed into the mainstream of academic research, but that it is still producing outputs which are transferable into the sphere of professional practice. (Contains 1 table and 3 notes.)