Bayesian Evidence as a Tool for Comparing Datasets
We introduce a 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''. The behavior of the resulting odds ratio is demonstrated with a two-dimensional toy example. We make explicit the connection between evidence ratios and the differences in peak-chisquared values, the later of which is more widely used and more cheaply calculated. Calculating evidence ratios for three cosmological datasets (recent CMB data (WMAP, ACBAR, CBI, VSA), SDSS 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.
- Research Organization:
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76SF00515
- OSTI ID:
- 839721
- Report Number(s):
- SLAC-PUB-10921; TRN: US200516%%365
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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