What's in a turn?

Introduction. The concepts of "divergent" and "convergent" research fields are utilised to discuss the strategy of introducing "turns" in information science. Method. This is a discussion paper which uses conceptual analyses in combination with a discussion of research ideals. Analysis. Information science is a divergent research field which includes many subfields with diverse perspectives. They are influenced by different schools of thought and when "turns" are introduced, there will be many attempting to turn the field in different directions. Results. Different turns have various implications for the research field. The metaphor of "the turn" is highly flexible and the research field can be bent in many different ways and in a more or less fundamental manner. The situation of information science being a relatively small research field, including many subdisciplines and perspectives serves as a setting for a divergent field with many turns in different directions. However, several ideas that address a more fundamental turn, that would make the field more convergent, is discussed in the article. Conclusions. An image of a stronger more convergent research field is often a hidden implication of a turn. Perhaps strategies of introducing different "turns" need to be connected to a position on what kind of research field information science should be. Do we want a field with many minor turns or do we want to move over to a more convergent research field and turn as one unit? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]