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Abstract
Research that is deemed to be at the 'cutting edge' occupies a privileged position within the academic community. It enjoys the highest status and is very attractive to funding agencies. This article explores the possible meanings of the term 'cutting edge' and the descriptive and evaluative uses to which it is put in the social sciences. The views of significant academic gatekeepers on current developments in UK social science are presented. Included are estimations of the amount of research output that deserves the 'cutting edge' sobriquet, along with specific examples of areas, issues and types of cutting edge research. New developments are identified, and judgements are collated in relation to globalization, gender and postmodernism. The emergent ingredients of cutting edge research are enunciated and analysed, and the article concludes with comments on the practical value of the concept.