title: Thinking backwards can inform concerns about 'incomplete' data.
abstract: Ecologists often feel that they need complete data before they are able to advise or make decisions. Thinking backwards, an idea from mathematics, suggests that we need to focus on the desired outcome to tell us which way to go for practical solutions for our ecological ambitions.
authors: Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia. Electronic address: mgrose@unimelb.edu.au.
authors: Margaret J
authors: MJ
authors: Grose
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*
keywords: incomplete data; inverse problems; noise; speculation