Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
We introduce a new conservative test for quantifying the consistency of two or more datasets. The test is based on the Bayesian answer to the question, ``How much more probable is it that all my data were generated from the same model system than if each dataset were generated from an independent set of model parameters?'' We make explicit the connection between evidence ratios and the differences in peak chi-squared values, the latter of which are more widely used and more cheaply calculated. Calculating evidence ratios for three cosmological datasets recent cosmic microwave background data (WMAP, ACBAR, CBI, VSA), SDSS galaxy redshift survey, and the most recent SNe type 1A data we find that concordance is favored and the tightening of constraints on cosmological parameters is indeed justified.
Marshall et al. (Fri,) studied this question.