Greg wrote...
I am trying to figure out a formula that will allow me to compare the
contents of cells within a range and let me know if there is a value that is
not the same as the others. For example:
Columns a,b,c,d,e and f and say "Joe"- this result is acceptable
Columns a,b & c all say "joe" and d,e,&f all say "Mary"- this result is
unacceptable

I want a formula or function that will tell me this wihout me having to
visually scan the data to determine this.

If you mean you want to check some range, which I'll denote rng, to see
whether all cells in that range contain the same value, you could try

=sumproduct(--(rng=INDEX(rng,1,1))=COUNTA(rng)