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Spurious correlation #2,898 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is xkcd comics published about childhood and the second variable is Season wins for the New York Giants.  The chart goes from 2007 to 2023, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

Fewer xkcd comics about childhood meant the players were no longer getting that extra "play" time for victory formation drills.

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a sunny football stadium where New York Giants players are cheerfully holding up xkcd comics about childhood, with playful references to the team. Visualize the players grinning with determination, ready to tackle their opponents and catch victories on the field. The scene should capture the players celebrating the lighthearted humor and powerful playbooks within the comics, as it propels the Giants to win seasons, leaving their opponents deflated. The style should evoke a nostalgic comic-book illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s. The depiction should include only scenes, people, and objects, it should not include text or speech bubbles.
This image generation prompt was also generated by AI, using the following sequence:

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You select one of a few potential scene descriptors that seems to go along with the variables described. You respond only with the scene descriptions provided and say nothing else.
User prompt: Here are two variables: xkcd comics published about childhood and Season wins for the New York Giants. Given these, which of the following image style descriptions seems most appropriate? Pick the one that seems to be related to one of the variables at hand. Please respond with only one of the following potential descriptions: inspired by bauhaus A comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s Voxel art Magic realism Cute 2D animation
ChatGPT: A comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated. You combine both variables into one scene.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that prominently depicts both xkcd comics published about childhood and Season wins for the New York Giants, in the following situation: Because xkcd comics about childhood have been incorporating more references to Giants, it has been subconsciously boosting the morale of New York Giants players. The increased exposure to nostalgic memories of childhood has made the players more determined to "tackle" their opponents and "catch" victories, leading them to triumph on the field. The comics' humor and lightheartedness have served as a powerful "playbook" for the Giants, propelling them to win seasons and ensuring that their opponents are left "deflated.". Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a sunny football stadium, New York Giants players cheer as they hold up xkcd comics about childhood, featuring playful references to the team. The players are grinning with determination, ready to tackle their opponents and catch victories on the field. The comics' lighthearted humor serves as their powerful playbook, propelling the Giants to win seasons and leaving their opponents deflated.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You write and improve image generation prompts for DALLE-3. You maintain the same subjects, but enhance the visuals.
User prompt: Please respond with an image generation prompt that would be likely to create an interesting visual using DALLE-3, using the following style: [ A comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s ] and depicting this scene: In a sunny football stadium, New York Giants players cheer as they hold up xkcd comics about childhood, featuring playful references to the team. The players are grinning with determination, ready to tackle their opponents and catch victories on the field. The comics' lighthearted humor serves as their powerful playbook, propelling the Giants to win seasons and leaving their opponents deflated. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a sunny football stadium where New York Giants players are cheerfully holding up xkcd comics about childhood, with playful references to the team. Visualize the players grinning with determination, ready to tackle their opponents and catch victories on the field. The scene should capture the players celebrating the lighthearted humor and powerful playbooks within the comics, as it propels the Giants to win seasons, leaving their opponents deflated. The style should evoke a nostalgic comic-book illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s.

*Variations in the User Prompts from chart to chart are just the result of random number generation in Python. I wrote a few arrays of various styles and methods to ask questions to change up the results. Every time this site writes an explanation or generates an image, the script picks from each at random.

I sequence the requests into multiple prompts because I find GPT 3.5 to perform much better with short, well-managed contexts. Thus, I track the context directly in Python and only ask ChatGPT targeted questions.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how a decrease in xkcd comics published about childhood caused Season wins for the New York Giants to decrease. Include one good pun.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins

The Journal of Irreverent Statistics

Jan 2024

Reminder: This paper is AI-generated. Not real!
Quick note: This sequence is long and repetitive. That's how the prompt engineering works for this one. I manage the output in Python to format it into this PDF.




Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.You write titles and abstracts of goofy academic research papers.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, and add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about childhood and Season wins for the New York Giants. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Make the title punny if you can come up with clever pun. If not, make it sound serious.

Your research team used data from AI analysis of xkcd comics and Pro-Football-Reference.com to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.8161334 and p < 0.01 for 2007 to 2023.

Please respond in this format (replace "Lorem ipsum dolor sit" with your title and abstract)

[[TITLE]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit

[[ABSTRACT]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit



ChatGPT:
[[TITLE]]
The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this light-hearted yet rigorous research study, we delve into the unexpected and peculiar relationship between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants. Utilizing an innovative combination of AI analysis of xkcd comics and comprehensive data from Pro-Football-Reference.com, we set out to confirm or debunk the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a surprising correlation coefficient of 0.8161334 and statistical significance of p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2023, prompting both laughter and skepticism within the scholarly community. Through this investigation, we aim to bring a touch of levity to the realm of statistical inquiry while elevating the importance of considering unorthodox variables in predictive modeling.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.You draft the introduction section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about childhood and Season wins for the New York Giants. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this light-hearted yet rigorous research study, we delve into the unexpected and peculiar relationship between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants. Utilizing an innovative combination of AI analysis of xkcd comics and comprehensive data from Pro-Football-Reference.com, we set out to confirm or debunk the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a surprising correlation coefficient of 0.8161334 and statistical significance of p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2023, prompting both laughter and skepticism within the scholarly community. Through this investigation, we aim to bring a touch of levity to the realm of statistical inquiry while elevating the importance of considering unorthodox variables in predictive modeling.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

The realm of statistical analysis is often marked by its staid and serious demeanor, with discussions of hypotheses, p-values, and regression coefficients typically devoid of humor or levity. However, in the spirit of lighthearted inquiry and unconventional thinking, we embark on a delightfully quirky investigation into the symbiotic relationship between xkcd comics about childhood and the triumphs and tribulations of the New York Giants on the gridiron. What might at first appear to be a whimsical flight of fancy has, through the lens of rigorous statistical analysis, unveiled an unexpected and statistically significant relationship that tickles the funny bone and raises eyebrows in equal measure.

One cannot help but approach this topic with a touch of whimsy and wonderment, as the prospect of linking the erudite musings of xkcd with the brute force athleticism of American football may seem akin to searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack through a maze of corn mazes. However, as the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and in the spirit of the unconventional, we delve into the world of humor, childhood nostalgia, and pigskin pursuits to uncover the statistical intricacies that underpin this unlikely association.

Though humor and sports may at first glance seem an odd couple, the interplay of statistical analysis and innovative data sources has the potential to uncover the unexpected and engender a sense of wonderment in the most unassuming of places. As such, we invite our esteemed colleagues to join us in this whimsical yet earnest exploration of the shared narrative woven by xkcd childhood comics and the ebbs and flows of the New York Giants’ seasonal victories. Through this study, we aspire not only to challenge traditional notions of predictive modeling but also to inject a light-hearted sense of curiosity into the often austere domain of statistical inquiry.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.You draft a literature review section of an academic research paper, that starts out dry for the first few sentences but then becomes hilarious and goofy.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about childhood and Season wins for the New York Giants. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Speak in the present tense for this section (the authors find...), as is common in academic research paper literature reviews. Name the sources in a format similar to this: In "Book," the authors find lorem and ipsum.

Make up the lorem and ipsum part, but make it sound related to the topic at hand.

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Then name a couple popular internet memes that are related to one of the topics.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this light-hearted yet rigorous research study, we delve into the unexpected and peculiar relationship between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants. Utilizing an innovative combination of AI analysis of xkcd comics and comprehensive data from Pro-Football-Reference.com, we set out to confirm or debunk the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a surprising correlation coefficient of 0.8161334 and statistical significance of p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2023, prompting both laughter and skepticism within the scholarly community. Through this investigation, we aim to bring a touch of levity to the realm of statistical inquiry while elevating the importance of considering unorthodox variables in predictive modeling.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The realm of statistical analysis is often marked by its staid and serious demeanor, with discussions of hypotheses, p-values, and regression coefficients typically devoid of humor or levity. However, in the spirit of lighthearted inquiry and unconventional thinking, we embark on a delightfully quirky investigation into the symbiotic relationship between xkcd comics about childhood and the triumphs and tribulations of the New York Giants on the gridiron. What might at first appear to be a whimsical flight of fancy has, through the lens of rigorous statistical analysis, unveiled an unexpected and statistically significant relationship that tickles the funny bone and raises eyebrows in equal measure.
One cannot help but approach this topic with a touch of whimsy and wonderment, as the prospect of linking the erudite musings of xkcd with the brute force athleticism of American football may seem akin to searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack through a maze of corn mazes. However, as the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and in the spirit of the unconventional, we delve into the world of humor, childhood nostalgia, and pigskin pursuits to uncover the statistical intricacies that underpin this unlikely association.
Though humor and sports may at first glance seem an odd couple, the interplay of statistical analysis and innovative data sources has the potential to uncover the unexpected and engender a sense of wonderment in the most unassuming of places. As such, we invite our esteemed colleagues to join us in this whimsical yet earnest exploration of the shared narrative woven by xkcd childhood comics and the ebbs and flows of the New York Giants’ seasonal victories. Through this study, we aspire not only to challenge traditional notions of predictive modeling but also to inject a light-hearted sense of curiosity into the often austere domain of statistical inquiry.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

In Smith et al.'s seminal work, "Childhood Comics and Their Influence on Adult Behavior," the authors find a comprehensive catalog of xkcd comics related to childhood and explore their potential impact on individuals' cognitive and emotional development. The study illuminates the nuanced ways in which these humorous depictions of childhood experiences could shape and mold one's worldview, offering a serious take on the potential significance of xkcd comics in adult life.

In a similar vein, Doe and Jones' examination in "Nostalgia and Sports: Unlikely Bedfellows" delves into the captivating realm of nostalgia and its intersection with the world of athletic pursuits. The authors scrutinize the ways in which childhood memories and sentimental attachments may influence individuals' engagement with sports, prompting further contemplation of the potential connections between xkcd's nostalgic portrayals and the fervent support of sports teams.

Transitioning to an exploration of fictional narratives, the literary world offers intriguing insights into the whimsical connections we seek to unravel. In "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger, the portrayal of the protagonist's nostalgic musings on childhood and the accompanying themes of alienation provide a thought-provoking parallel to the wistful undertones of xkcd comics. Furthermore, the captivating adventures chronicled in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, while set in a fantastical realm, resonate with the universal experiences of childhood and the enduring appeal of youthful amusement.

On the digital frontier, the viral sensation of the "Y U No" meme encapsulates the zeitgeist of humorous perplexity, mirroring the perplexing correlation between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' seasonal triumphs. Additionally, the evolution of the "Surprised Pikachu" meme reflects the incredulous reactions sparked by our initial foray into this compelling nexus, capturing the essence of our determination to unravel this enigmatic relationship.

As we traverse the landscape of literature and cultural commentary, it becomes clear that the interplay of childhood nostalgia, humor, and sports forms an intricate tapestry of human experience. With this eclectic array of perspectives in mind, we embark on a statistical odyssey to shed light on the enthralling, if not entirely serious, convergence of xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' triumphs on the football field.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.You draft the methodology section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about childhood and Season wins for the New York Giants. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from AI analysis of xkcd comics and Pro-Football-Reference.com . You used data from 2007 to 2023

Make up the research methods you don't know. Make them a bit goofy and convoluted.

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this light-hearted yet rigorous research study, we delve into the unexpected and peculiar relationship between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants. Utilizing an innovative combination of AI analysis of xkcd comics and comprehensive data from Pro-Football-Reference.com, we set out to confirm or debunk the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a surprising correlation coefficient of 0.8161334 and statistical significance of p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2023, prompting both laughter and skepticism within the scholarly community. Through this investigation, we aim to bring a touch of levity to the realm of statistical inquiry while elevating the importance of considering unorthodox variables in predictive modeling.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The realm of statistical analysis is often marked by its staid and serious demeanor, with discussions of hypotheses, p-values, and regression coefficients typically devoid of humor or levity. However, in the spirit of lighthearted inquiry and unconventional thinking, we embark on a delightfully quirky investigation into the symbiotic relationship between xkcd comics about childhood and the triumphs and tribulations of the New York Giants on the gridiron. What might at first appear to be a whimsical flight of fancy has, through the lens of rigorous statistical analysis, unveiled an unexpected and statistically significant relationship that tickles the funny bone and raises eyebrows in equal measure.
One cannot help but approach this topic with a touch of whimsy and wonderment, as the prospect of linking the erudite musings of xkcd with the brute force athleticism of American football may seem akin to searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack through a maze of corn mazes. However, as the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and in the spirit of the unconventional, we delve into the world of humor, childhood nostalgia, and pigskin pursuits to uncover the statistical intricacies that underpin this unlikely association.
Though humor and sports may at first glance seem an odd couple, the interplay of statistical analysis and innovative data sources has the potential to uncover the unexpected and engender a sense of wonderment in the most unassuming of places. As such, we invite our esteemed colleagues to join us in this whimsical yet earnest exploration of the shared narrative woven by xkcd childhood comics and the ebbs and flows of the New York Giants’ seasonal victories. Through this study, we aspire not only to challenge traditional notions of predictive modeling but also to inject a light-hearted sense of curiosity into the often austere domain of statistical inquiry.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To uncover the hidden connection between xkcd comics related to childhood and the New York Giants' seasonal wins, our research team embarked on a whimsical yet rigorous journey through the convoluted corridors of statistical analysis and humor-laden data collection. Our data, sourced from the vast expanse of the internet, primarily relied on AI analysis of xkcd comics and Pro-Football-Reference.com, with a touch of whimsy and a dash of paradoxical thinking to guide our methodology.

First, the AI analysis of xkcd comics involved a sophisticated algorithm designed to detect themes related to childhood within the beloved webcomics of Randall Munroe. This involved parsing through the nuanced nuances of stick figures and science-laden humor to identify the elusive threads of childhood nostalgia woven into the fabric of Munroe’s witty musings. As we sifted through the digital troves of xkcd, we kept a keen eye out for references to childhood, playground antics, and the unrelenting ponderings of youth.

Simultaneously, our data collection from Pro-Football-Reference.com employed a more straightforward yet equally zany approach. We meticulously gathered records of the New York Giants' season wins, losses, and ties from 2007 to 2023, carefully distinguishing between victories achieved through sheer grit and those possibly influenced by the whimsical hum of childhood nostalgia.

Onto the statistical analysis! With our datasets in hand, we harnessed the arcane powers of correlation coefficients and p-values to unveil the hidden synchronicities between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' gridiron triumphs. Our methods transcended the mundanity of conventional statistical procedures, dancing on the edge of statistical significance while honoring the whimsical spirit of our investigation.

In sum, our methodology embraced a harmonious blend of AI-assisted comic analysis, sports statistics, and a touch of whimsy to unravel the enigmatic link between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' seasonal victories. While our methods may have raised an eyebrow or two, they ultimately led us to the eye-opening revelation of a surprisingly robust correlation, prompting laughter and skepticism in equal measure. Through this delightfully quirky and statistically significant inquiry, we hope to inspire future endeavors that intertwine offbeat variables and statistical inquiry in the most unexpected and hilarious ways.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.You draft the results section of an academic research paper. You speak in the past tense (you found...).
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about childhood and Season wins for the New York Giants. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from AI analysis of xkcd comics and Pro-Football-Reference.com .

For the time period 2007 to 2023, you found a correlation 0.8161334, r-squared of 0.6660737, and p < 0.01.

One figure will be included. The figure (Fig. 1) is a scatterplot showing the strong correlation between the two variables. You don't need to specify where; I will add the figure.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this light-hearted yet rigorous research study, we delve into the unexpected and peculiar relationship between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants. Utilizing an innovative combination of AI analysis of xkcd comics and comprehensive data from Pro-Football-Reference.com, we set out to confirm or debunk the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a surprising correlation coefficient of 0.8161334 and statistical significance of p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2023, prompting both laughter and skepticism within the scholarly community. Through this investigation, we aim to bring a touch of levity to the realm of statistical inquiry while elevating the importance of considering unorthodox variables in predictive modeling.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
The realm of statistical analysis is often marked by its staid and serious demeanor, with discussions of hypotheses, p-values, and regression coefficients typically devoid of humor or levity. However, in the spirit of lighthearted inquiry and unconventional thinking, we embark on a delightfully quirky investigation into the symbiotic relationship between xkcd comics about childhood and the triumphs and tribulations of the New York Giants on the gridiron. What might at first appear to be a whimsical flight of fancy has, through the lens of rigorous statistical analysis, unveiled an unexpected and statistically significant relationship that tickles the funny bone and raises eyebrows in equal measure.
One cannot help but approach this topic with a touch of whimsy and wonderment, as the prospect of linking the erudite musings of xkcd with the brute force athleticism of American football may seem akin to searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack through a maze of corn mazes. However, as the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and in the spirit of the unconventional, we delve into the world of humor, childhood nostalgia, and pigskin pursuits to uncover the statistical intricacies that underpin this unlikely association.
Though humor and sports may at first glance seem an odd couple, the interplay of statistical analysis and innovative data sources has the potential to uncover the unexpected and engender a sense of wonderment in the most unassuming of places. As such, we invite our esteemed colleagues to join us in this whimsical yet earnest exploration of the shared narrative woven by xkcd childhood comics and the ebbs and flows of the New York Giants’ seasonal victories. Through this study, we aspire not only to challenge traditional notions of predictive modeling but also to inject a light-hearted sense of curiosity into the often austere domain of statistical inquiry.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The statistical analysis of the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants yielded some truly unexpected and, some might say, comically astounding results. For the time period 2007 to 2023, we found a correlation coefficient of 0.8161334, indicating a surprisingly strong positive relationship between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. The r-squared value of 0.6660737 further emphasizes the robustness of this correlation, suggesting that approximately 66.61% of the variability in the New York Giants' season wins can be explained by the variations in xkcd childhood comics. The p-value of < 0.01 highlights the statistical significance of this relationship, providing resounding evidence that this correlation is not to be taken lightly.

To visually capture the strength of this unexpected association, we present a scatterplot (Fig. 1) showcasing the compelling correlation between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' season wins. This figure serves as a whimsical yet persuasive visual representation of the statistical tie between the playful world of childhood musings and the hard-fought battles on the gridiron.

In the realm of statistical inquiry, where intricate models and elaborate equations often dominate discussions, our findings serve as a light-hearted reminder of the potential for whimsy and wonder even in the most unconventional of statistical relationships. These results not only challenge the traditional boundaries of predictive modeling but also serve as a poignant demonstration of the joy that can be derived from unearthing unexpected connections in the world of data analysis.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.You draft the discussion section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about childhood and Season wins for the New York Giants. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

Here are the title, abstract, literature review, and results sections. Please harken back to 1-2 of the goofy items in the literature review, but pretend to take them completely seriously. Discuss how your results supported the prior research.

Do not write a conclusion. I will add a conclusion after this.

[[TITLE]]
The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this light-hearted yet rigorous research study, we delve into the unexpected and peculiar relationship between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants. Utilizing an innovative combination of AI analysis of xkcd comics and comprehensive data from Pro-Football-Reference.com, we set out to confirm or debunk the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a surprising correlation coefficient of 0.8161334 and statistical significance of p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2023, prompting both laughter and skepticism within the scholarly community. Through this investigation, we aim to bring a touch of levity to the realm of statistical inquiry while elevating the importance of considering unorthodox variables in predictive modeling.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
In Smith et al.'s seminal work, "Childhood Comics and Their Influence on Adult Behavior," the authors find a comprehensive catalog of xkcd comics related to childhood and explore their potential impact on individuals' cognitive and emotional development. The study illuminates the nuanced ways in which these humorous depictions of childhood experiences could shape and mold one's worldview, offering a serious take on the potential significance of xkcd comics in adult life.
In a similar vein, Doe and Jones' examination in "Nostalgia and Sports: Unlikely Bedfellows" delves into the captivating realm of nostalgia and its intersection with the world of athletic pursuits. The authors scrutinize the ways in which childhood memories and sentimental attachments may influence individuals' engagement with sports, prompting further contemplation of the potential connections between xkcd's nostalgic portrayals and the fervent support of sports teams.
Transitioning to an exploration of fictional narratives, the literary world offers intriguing insights into the whimsical connections we seek to unravel. In "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger, the portrayal of the protagonist's nostalgic musings on childhood and the accompanying themes of alienation provide a thought-provoking parallel to the wistful undertones of xkcd comics. Furthermore, the captivating adventures chronicled in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, while set in a fantastical realm, resonate with the universal experiences of childhood and the enduring appeal of youthful amusement.
On the digital frontier, the viral sensation of the "Y U No" meme encapsulates the zeitgeist of humorous perplexity, mirroring the perplexing correlation between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' seasonal triumphs. Additionally, the evolution of the "Surprised Pikachu" meme reflects the incredulous reactions sparked by our initial foray into this compelling nexus, capturing the essence of our determination to unravel this enigmatic relationship.
As we traverse the landscape of literature and cultural commentary, it becomes clear that the interplay of childhood nostalgia, humor, and sports forms an intricate tapestry of human experience. With this eclectic array of perspectives in mind, we embark on a statistical odyssey to shed light on the enthralling, if not entirely serious, convergence of xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' triumphs on the football field.

[[RESULTS]]
The statistical analysis of the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants yielded some truly unexpected and, some might say, comically astounding results. For the time period 2007 to 2023, we found a correlation coefficient of 0.8161334, indicating a surprisingly strong positive relationship between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. The r-squared value of 0.6660737 further emphasizes the robustness of this correlation, suggesting that approximately 66.61% of the variability in the New York Giants' season wins can be explained by the variations in xkcd childhood comics. The p-value of < 0.01 highlights the statistical significance of this relationship, providing resounding evidence that this correlation is not to be taken lightly.
To visually capture the strength of this unexpected association, we present a scatterplot (Fig. 1) showcasing the compelling correlation between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' season wins. This figure serves as a whimsical yet persuasive visual representation of the statistical tie between the playful world of childhood musings and the hard-fought battles on the gridiron.
In the realm of statistical inquiry, where intricate models and elaborate equations often dominate discussions, our findings serve as a light-hearted reminder of the potential for whimsy and wonder even in the most unconventional of statistical relationships. These results not only challenge the traditional boundaries of predictive modeling but also serve as a poignant demonstration of the joy that can be derived from unearthing unexpected connections in the world of data analysis.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

Our investigation into the curious connection between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' seasonal triumphs produced some truly hilarious and, dare we say, awe-inspiring results. Our findings not only support the fanciful speculations put forth by Smith et al. and Doe and Jones but also extend an invitation to integrate a touch of whimsy into the often sobering realm of statistical analysis.

In alignment with Smith et al.'s assertion regarding the potential influence of childhood comics on adult behavior, our results suggest a surprisingly robust association between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' season wins. This statistical brouhaha evokes contemplation on the profound impact of childhood memories, humor, and nostalgia on individuals' engagement with sports teams, prompting a kaleidoscopic view of the human experience that transcends the boundaries of traditional statistical inquiry.

In addition, our findings provide a convivial nod to Doe and Jones' study on nostalgia and sports, reinforcing the whimsical link between sentimental attachments and sports team allegiance. The statistically significant correlation coefficient and r-squared value emphasize the substantive connection between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' triumphs, inviting delightful musings on the interplay of nostalgia, humor, and athletic pursuits.

As we reminisce on the literary parallels highlighted in our literature review, the unexpected strength of the correlation between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' successes mirrors the whimsical resonances found in "The Catcher in the Rye" and the Harry Potter series. Like the captivating adventures chronicled in fiction, our statistical escapade uncovers an enchanting narrative of unexpected connections and comedic surprises, sustaining the allure of the ineffable ties that bind childhood nostalgia, humor, and sports triumphs.

Moreover, our findings echo the astonishment encapsulated in the "Surprised Pikachu" meme, encapsulating the delightful perplexity sparked by our statistical odyssey. The mirthful scatterplot (Fig. 1) presents a visual tour de force, showcasing the captivating tie between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' season wins with an exuberant flair that underscores the whimsical essence of our discovery.

In concluding, our research accentuates the profound capacity for lighthearted inquiry and jovial discernment within the empirical domain, casting a luminous spotlight on the mirthful possibilities that await the intrepid explorer of statistical whimsy. This statistical saga not only challenges the conventional boundaries of predictive modeling but also serves as a timely reminder of the inexhaustible delight that permeates unorthodox statistical relationships.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.You draft the discussion section of goofy academic research papers that sounds like it belongs based on the title and abstract provided.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about childhood and Season wins for the New York Giants. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Limit your response to 300 tokens. At the very end, assert that no more research is needed in this area.

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this light-hearted yet rigorous research study, we delve into the unexpected and peculiar relationship between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants. Utilizing an innovative combination of AI analysis of xkcd comics and comprehensive data from Pro-Football-Reference.com, we set out to confirm or debunk the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a surprising correlation coefficient of 0.8161334 and statistical significance of p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2023, prompting both laughter and skepticism within the scholarly community. Through this investigation, we aim to bring a touch of levity to the realm of statistical inquiry while elevating the importance of considering unorthodox variables in predictive modeling.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The realm of statistical analysis is often marked by its staid and serious demeanor, with discussions of hypotheses, p-values, and regression coefficients typically devoid of humor or levity. However, in the spirit of lighthearted inquiry and unconventional thinking, we embark on a delightfully quirky investigation into the symbiotic relationship between xkcd comics about childhood and the triumphs and tribulations of the New York Giants on the gridiron. What might at first appear to be a whimsical flight of fancy has, through the lens of rigorous statistical analysis, unveiled an unexpected and statistically significant relationship that tickles the funny bone and raises eyebrows in equal measure.
One cannot help but approach this topic with a touch of whimsy and wonderment, as the prospect of linking the erudite musings of xkcd with the brute force athleticism of American football may seem akin to searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack through a maze of corn mazes. However, as the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and in the spirit of the unconventional, we delve into the world of humor, childhood nostalgia, and pigskin pursuits to uncover the statistical intricacies that underpin this unlikely association.
Though humor and sports may at first glance seem an odd couple, the interplay of statistical analysis and innovative data sources has the potential to uncover the unexpected and engender a sense of wonderment in the most unassuming of places. As such, we invite our esteemed colleagues to join us in this whimsical yet earnest exploration of the shared narrative woven by xkcd childhood comics and the ebbs and flows of the New York Giants’ seasonal victories. Through this study, we aspire not only to challenge traditional notions of predictive modeling but also to inject a light-hearted sense of curiosity into the often austere domain of statistical inquiry.

[[RESULTS]]
The statistical analysis of the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants yielded some truly unexpected and, some might say, comically astounding results. For the time period 2007 to 2023, we found a correlation coefficient of 0.8161334, indicating a surprisingly strong positive relationship between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. The r-squared value of 0.6660737 further emphasizes the robustness of this correlation, suggesting that approximately 66.61% of the variability in the New York Giants' season wins can be explained by the variations in xkcd childhood comics. The p-value of < 0.01 highlights the statistical significance of this relationship, providing resounding evidence that this correlation is not to be taken lightly.
To visually capture the strength of this unexpected association, we present a scatterplot (Fig. 1) showcasing the compelling correlation between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' season wins. This figure serves as a whimsical yet persuasive visual representation of the statistical tie between the playful world of childhood musings and the hard-fought battles on the gridiron.
In the realm of statistical inquiry, where intricate models and elaborate equations often dominate discussions, our findings serve as a light-hearted reminder of the potential for whimsy and wonder even in the most unconventional of statistical relationships. These results not only challenge the traditional boundaries of predictive modeling but also serve as a poignant demonstration of the joy that can be derived from unearthing unexpected connections in the world of data analysis.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In concluding our investigation into the whimsical union of xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' seasonal victories, we find ourselves in the delightful predicament of affirming a statistically significant connection between these seemingly disparate entities. To put it plainly, our findings stand as a touchdown for the unexpected, a Hail Mary pass in the realm of statistical inquiry, and a whimsical curveball in the domain of predictive modeling.

The correlation coefficient of 0.8161334 between xkcd childhood comics and the Giants' wins is akin to discovering a hidden gem in the punchline of a statistical dataset. The robustness of this relationship, as evidenced by the r-squared value of 0.6660737, is a statistical feat that would make even the most stoic of data analysts crack a lighthearted smile.

In the spirit of the unconventional, we must acknowledge that the whims of statistical inquiry have led us down a path that is both unexpected and, dare we say, giggle-inducing. Our research affirms that statistical whimsy and joy can be derived from unearthing unexpected connections in the realm of data analysis, signaling a resounding victory for levity in the typically serious world of academic inquiry.

In light of these revelatory findings, we assert with a touch of whimsy and a sprinkle of mirth that further investigation into the link between xkcd childhood comics and the New York Giants' wins may not be necessary. This curious correlation, while statistically robust, also serves as a playful reminder of the delightful possibilities that emerge when we venture into the uncharted territories of statistical inquiry. There is no need for unnecessary roughness here; let us revel in the statistical levity we have uncovered and channel our inquisitive energies toward the next unexpected and undeniably delightful research pursuit.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of academic journals. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding research, scientific, or academic journal that would publish a paper entited The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Irreverent Statistics


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of nonprofit research organizations and associations. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding nonprofit, academic, or scientific association or organization that would sponsor research that resulted in a paper entited The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Institute for Humor and Sports Research


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide potential search keywords separated by commas. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide potential search keywords for a paper titled The Gridiron Giggle: A Statistical Analysis of xkcd Childhood Comics and New York Giants' Season Wins with an abstract of In this light-hearted yet rigorous research study, we delve into the unexpected and peculiar relationship between xkcd comics related to childhood and the seasonal success of the New York Giants. Utilizing an innovative combination of AI analysis of xkcd comics and comprehensive data from Pro-Football-Reference.com, we set out to confirm or debunk the whimsical hypothesis that there may exist a correlation between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a surprising correlation coefficient of 0.8161334 and statistical significance of p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2023, prompting both laughter and skepticism within the scholarly community. Through this investigation, we aim to bring a touch of levity to the realm of statistical inquiry while elevating the importance of considering unorthodox variables in predictive modeling.

ChatGPT:

xkcd, childhood comics, New York Giants, statistical analysis, AI analysis, Pro-Football-Reference.com, correlation coefficient, p-value, whimsical hypothesis, predictive modeling, statistical significance

*There is a bunch of Python happening behind the scenes to turn this prompt sequence into a PDF.



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Data details

xkcd comics published about childhood
Detailed data title: The number of xkcd comics published each year about childhood
Source: AI analysis of xkcd comics
Additional Info: I designed a Python workflow to perform OCR on every xkcd comic, feed that text into a large language model, and ask the model whether this comic was about the category named in the title.

See what else correlates with xkcd comics published about childhood

Season wins for the New York Giants
Detailed data title: Number of season wins by the New York Giants
Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com
See what else correlates with Season wins for the New York Giants

Correlation r = 0.8161334 (Pearson correlation coefficient)
Correlation is a measure of how much the variables move together. If it is 0.99, when one goes up the other goes up. If it is 0.02, the connection is very weak or non-existent. If it is -0.99, then when one goes up the other goes down. If it is 1.00, you probably messed up your correlation function.

r2 = 0.6660737 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 66.6% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Season wins for the New York Giants) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., xkcd comics published about childhood) over the 17 years from 2007 through 2023.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 6.5E-5. 0.0000645974542972727400000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme. More specifically the p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme if we had only tested one pair of variables one time.

But I am a p-villain. I absolutely did not test only one pair of variables one time. I correlated hundreds of millions of pairs of variables. I threw boatloads of data into an industrial-sized blender to find this correlation.

Who is going to stop me? p-value reporting doesn't require me to report how many calculations I had to go through in order to find a low p-value!
On average, you will find a correaltion as strong as 0.82 in 0.0065% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 15,480 random variables Which I absolutely did.
with the same 16 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 16 because we have two variables measured over a period of 17 years. It's just the number of years minus ( the number of variables minus one ), which in this case simplifies to the number of years minus one.
you would randomly expect to find a correlation as strong as this one.

[ 0.55, 0.93 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
The confidence interval is an estimate the range of the value of the correlation coefficient, using the correlation itself as an input. The values are meant to be the low and high end of the correlation coefficient with 95% confidence.

This one is a bit more complciated than the other calculations, but I include it because many people have been pushing for confidence intervals instead of p-value calculations (for example: NEJM. However, if you are dredging data, you can reliably find yourself in the 5%. That's my goal!


All values for the years included above: If I were being very sneaky, I could trim years from the beginning or end of the datasets to increase the correlation on some pairs of variables. I don't do that because there are already plenty of correlations in my database without monkeying with the years.

Still, sometimes one of the variables has more years of data available than the other. This page only shows the overlapping years. To see all the years, click on "See what else correlates with..." link above.
20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
xkcd comics published about childhood (xkcd comics)1011131076414101124245
Season wins for the New York Giants (Giants wins)101281099766113546495




Why this works

  1. Data dredging: I have 25,153 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 632,673,409 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead abused the data to see what correlations shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random.
  2. Lack of causal connection: There is probably Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
    no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied.
  3. Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A simple Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
    p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.




Try it yourself

You can calculate the values on this page on your own! Try running the Python code to see the calculation results. Step 1: Download and install Python on your computer.

Step 2: Open a plaintext editor like Notepad and paste the code below into it.

Step 3: Save the file as "calculate_correlation.py" in a place you will remember, like your desktop. Copy the file location to your clipboard. On Windows, you can right-click the file and click "Properties," and then copy what comes after "Location:" As an example, on my computer the location is "C:\Users\tyler\Desktop"

Step 4: Open a command line window. For example, by pressing start and typing "cmd" and them pressing enter.

Step 5: Install the required modules by typing "pip install numpy", then pressing enter, then typing "pip install scipy", then pressing enter.

Step 6: Navigate to the location where you saved the Python file by using the "cd" command. For example, I would type "cd C:\Users\tyler\Desktop" and push enter.

Step 7: Run the Python script by typing "python calculate_correlation.py"

If you run into any issues, I suggest asking ChatGPT to walk you through installing Python and running the code below on your system. Try this question:

"Walk me through installing Python on my computer to run a script that uses scipy and numpy. Go step-by-step and ask me to confirm before moving on. Start by asking me questions about my operating system so that you know how to proceed. Assume I want the simplest installation with the latest version of Python and that I do not currently have any of the necessary elements installed. Remember to only give me one step per response and confirm I have done it before proceeding."


# These modules make it easier to perform the calculation
import numpy as np
from scipy import stats

# We'll define a function that we can call to return the correlation calculations
def calculate_correlation(array1, array2):

    # Calculate Pearson correlation coefficient and p-value
    correlation, p_value = stats.pearsonr(array1, array2)

    # Calculate R-squared as the square of the correlation coefficient
    r_squared = correlation**2

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([10,11,13,10,7,6,4,1,4,10,1,1,2,4,2,4,5,])
array_2 = np.array([10,12,8,10,9,9,7,6,6,11,3,5,4,6,4,9,5,])
array_1_name = "xkcd comics published about childhood"
array_2_name = "Season wins for the New York Giants"

# Perform the calculation
print(f"Calculating the correlation between {array_1_name} and {array_2_name}...")
correlation, r_squared, p_value = calculate_correlation(array_1, array_2)

# Print the results
print("Correlation Coefficient:", correlation)
print("R-squared:", r_squared)
print("P-value:", p_value)



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You may re-use the images on this page for any purpose, even commercial purposes, without asking for permission. The only requirement is that you attribute Tyler Vigen. Attribution can take many different forms. If you leave the "tylervigen.com" link in the image, that satisfies it just fine. If you remove it and move it to a footnote, that's fine too. You can also just write "Charts courtesy of Tyler Vigen" at the bottom of an article.

You do not need to attribute "the spurious correlations website," and you don't even need to link here if you don't want to. I don't gain anything from pageviews. There are no ads on this site, there is nothing for sale, and I am not for hire.

For the record, I am just one person. Tyler Vigen, he/him/his. I do have degrees, but they should not go after my name unless you want to annoy my wife. If that is your goal, then go ahead and cite me as "Tyler Vigen, A.A. A.A.S. B.A. J.D." Otherwise it is just "Tyler Vigen."

When spoken, my last name is pronounced "vegan," like I don't eat meat.

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Correlation ID: 2898 · Black Variable ID: 20025 · Red Variable ID: 19670
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