Can We Do More to Achieve Accurate Nuclear Data

We ask whether more effective methods can be used to reduce the discrepancies which often persist between individual measurements of neutron nuclear data. With this in mind we trace the historical development of a few selected measurements to see what lessons can be learned from the past. Several common sources of systematic error are noted. These have been qualitatively recognised for many years but have nevertheless continued to be the most likely causes of discrepancies. Experimenters have just not been sufficiently thorough in demonstrating an adequate treatment of these systematic effects. We suggest several improved procedures for future measurements.