ABSTRACT
A common assumption expressed by practitioners in fish and wildlife agencies goes something like this: “When we get the data, we can prove we are right.” Raleigh (1977) has observed that, by contrast to political decision makers, biologists as a profession tend to adhere to the belief that there is an ultimate truth, knowledge of which is obtainable through the acquisition of objective facts. Further, biologists tend to feel threatened by conflict, for, in an arena of ultimate truth, conflict can only mean that someone is wrong.
