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Spurious correlation #1,389 · 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 technology and the second variable is The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico.  The chart goes from 2007 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

The influx of technology-oriented xkcd comics sparked a surge in interest in all things tech, leading to a higher demand for mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. As the island embraced the comedic side of technology, more and more individuals were drawn to pursue mechanical engineering as a way to bring the jokes to life through their innovative creations. It seems the connection between witty webcomics and the rise of mechanical masterminds has proven to be no laughing matter in Puerto Rico!

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a colorful, bustling office space in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The room is filled with delightful cutesy graphics, such as animated robots and cheerful tech-inspired characters adorning the walls. In the center, a group of endearing mechanical engineers gather around a computer, joyfully engrossed in an xkcd comic that humorously depicts the quirks of technology. The engineers are sharing hearty chuckles, their interactions reflecting a sense of camaraderie. Through the window, the vibrant streets of San Juan and a sunlit skyline can be seen, adding an uplifting and lively backdrop to the scene. 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 technology and The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. 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: A photo-realistic image Cutsy graphics Voxel art A photo-realistic image Cyberpunk
ChatGPT: Cutsy graphics

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 technology and The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico together. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a bustling office in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a group of mechanical engineers gather around a computer, chuckling at an xkcd comic on the screen that humorously illustrates the quirks of technology. The office walls are adorned with xkcd posters, while the engineers discuss the latest advancements in mechanical engineering, showcasing the intersection of technology and their field in Puerto Rico.

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: [ Cutsy graphics ] and depicting this scene: In a bustling office in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a group of mechanical engineers gather around a computer, chuckling at an xkcd comic on the screen that humorously illustrates the quirks of technology. The office walls are adorned with xkcd posters, while the engineers discuss the latest advancements in mechanical engineering, showcasing the intersection of technology and their field in Puerto Rico. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a colorful, bustling office space in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The room is filled with delightful cutesy graphics, such as animated robots and cheerful tech-inspired characters adorning the walls. In the center, a group of endearing mechanical engineers gather around a computer, joyfully engrossed in an xkcd comic that humorously depicts the quirks of technology. The engineers are sharing hearty chuckles, their interactions reflecting a sense of camaraderie. Through the window, the vibrant streets of San Juan and a sunlit skyline can be seen, adding an uplifting and lively backdrop to the scene.

*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 increases in xkcd comics published about technology positively influenced The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico

International Journal of Humor Studies

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 dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics 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 technology and The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Make the title seem clever.

Your research team used data from AI analysis of xkcd comics and Bureau of Larbor Statistics to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 and p < 0.01 for 2007 to 2022.

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]]
"Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research study aims to unravel the complex yet comical relationship between xkcd comics centered on technology and the quantity of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. Leveraging advanced AI analysis of xkcd comics and authoritative data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our findings surprisingly show a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2022. Our results suggest that the absurdity and wit of xkcd comics regarding technology may have a peculiar influence on the career choices in engineering, particularly in Puerto Rico.

In analyzing the data, we uncovered a striking pattern that can only be described as "mech-anical." The presence of xkcd comics lampooning technological tropes coincides with an increase in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico, prompting us to ponder whether laughter truly is the best medicine for engineering career prospects.

Moreover, the correlation observed in our study raises intriguing questions about the impact of humor and satire in popular culture on professional occupational outcomes, prompting us to consider the potential for xkcd comics to serve as unintentional recruitment tools for mechanical engineering. This unexpected correlation is a testament to the unparalleled power of humor, as even in the realm of academia, a well-timed joke can yield significant and thought-provoking results.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics 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 technology and The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research study aims to unravel the complex yet comical relationship between xkcd comics centered on technology and the quantity of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. Leveraging advanced AI analysis of xkcd comics and authoritative data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our findings surprisingly show a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2022. Our results suggest that the absurdity and wit of xkcd comics regarding technology may have a peculiar influence on the career choices in engineering, particularly in Puerto Rico.

In analyzing the data, we uncovered a striking pattern that can only be described as "mech-anical." The presence of xkcd comics lampooning technological tropes coincides with an increase in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico, prompting us to ponder whether laughter truly is the best medicine for engineering career prospects.

Moreover, the correlation observed in our study raises intriguing questions about the impact of humor and satire in popular culture on professional occupational outcomes, prompting us to consider the potential for xkcd comics to serve as unintentional recruitment tools for mechanical engineering. This unexpected correlation is a testament to the unparalleled power of humor, as even in the realm of academia, a well-timed joke can yield significant and thought-provoking results.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

In the realm of academic inquiry, seemingly unrelated phenomena are often found to be interconnected through intricate and unexpected associations. Such is the case with the present study, which delves into the seemingly disparate realms of webcomics and engineering occupation trends. The phenomenon under investigation is the correlation between the publication of xkcd comics on technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. One might say we are delving into the "nuts and bolts" of this relationship.

The webcomic xkcd, created by Randall Munroe, is known for its witty and irreverent take on various aspects of science, technology, and geek culture. The series employs clever humor and visual puns to dissect and reinterpret complex technological concepts, often leaving its audience simultaneously enlightened and entertained. Certainly, Munroe's work has been described as "exhibit A" in humorously elucidating the otherwise obscure minutiae of digital design and engineering.

It may appear as though we are "engineering" a rather tenuous link between the levity of webcomics and the serious endeavor of mechanical engineering in Puerto Rico. However, our preliminary analysis indicates a striking relationship that cannot be easily brushed off as mere coincidence. This investigation aims to provide a rigorous and data-driven examination of this unexpected correlation, albeit with a sprinkle of comic relief. After all, humor "gears" our perspective in curious ways.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics 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 technology and The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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 you might move on to cartoons and children's shows that you watched for research.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research study aims to unravel the complex yet comical relationship between xkcd comics centered on technology and the quantity of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. Leveraging advanced AI analysis of xkcd comics and authoritative data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our findings surprisingly show a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2022. Our results suggest that the absurdity and wit of xkcd comics regarding technology may have a peculiar influence on the career choices in engineering, particularly in Puerto Rico.

In analyzing the data, we uncovered a striking pattern that can only be described as "mech-anical." The presence of xkcd comics lampooning technological tropes coincides with an increase in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico, prompting us to ponder whether laughter truly is the best medicine for engineering career prospects.

Moreover, the correlation observed in our study raises intriguing questions about the impact of humor and satire in popular culture on professional occupational outcomes, prompting us to consider the potential for xkcd comics to serve as unintentional recruitment tools for mechanical engineering. This unexpected correlation is a testament to the unparalleled power of humor, as even in the realm of academia, a well-timed joke can yield significant and thought-provoking results.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
In the realm of academic inquiry, seemingly unrelated phenomena are often found to be interconnected through intricate and unexpected associations. Such is the case with the present study, which delves into the seemingly disparate realms of webcomics and engineering occupation trends. The phenomenon under investigation is the correlation between the publication of xkcd comics on technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. One might say we are delving into the "nuts and bolts" of this relationship.
The webcomic xkcd, created by Randall Munroe, is known for its witty and irreverent take on various aspects of science, technology, and geek culture. The series employs clever humor and visual puns to dissect and reinterpret complex technological concepts, often leaving its audience simultaneously enlightened and entertained. Certainly, Munroe's work has been described as "exhibit A" in humorously elucidating the otherwise obscure minutiae of digital design and engineering.
It may appear as though we are "engineering" a rather tenuous link between the levity of webcomics and the serious endeavor of mechanical engineering in Puerto Rico. However, our preliminary analysis indicates a striking relationship that cannot be easily brushed off as mere coincidence. This investigation aims to provide a rigorous and data-driven examination of this unexpected correlation, albeit with a sprinkle of comic relief. After all, humor "gears" our perspective in curious ways.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

In "The Impact of Humor on Professional Decision-Making," Smith and Doe explore the influence of comedy and satire on individuals' career choices. Their findings suggest that exposure to humor, particularly in the realm of technology and engineering, can significantly impact the perception and attractiveness of related professions. This highlights the potential relevance of humor in the context of our research, where we seek to understand the influence of xkcd comics on the career trajectory of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico.

"Webcomics and Their Socio-Cultural Influence," by Jones, delves into the societal impact of webcomics, emphasizing the role of humor and satire in shaping cultural attitudes and preferences. This study provides insight into the potential significance of webcomics, such as xkcd, in influencing occupational choices, albeit in a lighthearted and amusing manner.

Now, turning to related literature outside the direct purview of our research, "The Rise of Mechanical Engineering in Contemporary Society" by Nobel and Ing wonders if the evolution of mechanical engineering could have any correlation with the rise of technology-themed humor in popular culture. Indeed, the book posits that the growth of mechanical engineering may be influenced by external socio-cultural factors, including humor and media portrayals, echoing the central theme of our investigation.

In the realm of fiction books that may have relevance to our study, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to Engineering" by Douglas Adams humorously expounds on the interplay of technology and comedy, suggesting that the amalgamation of science and absurdity could have unforeseen consequences on professional inclinations – a notion that aligns with the spirit of our undertaking.

On a lighter note, "The Cat in the Hat Learns to Code" by Dr. Seuss potentially captures the whimsical essence of technology-themed literature, reminding us that even in the world of serious inquiry, a dash of playful creativity can spark unexpected insights – much like the humorous elements we seek to unravel in the context of xkcd and mechanical engineering.

A relevant non-traditional source of information worth mentioning is the animated series "Dexter's Laboratory," which, while not directly related to the field of mechanical engineering, humorously depicts the inventive and technological prowess of the titular character, stimulating creative ruminations on the potential impact of animated content on engineering-related aspirations.

In summary, while the confluence of humor, webcomics, and engineering may appear unconventional at first glance, the varied literature reviewed points to the plausibility of unexpected connections – a testament to the multifaceted and often idiosyncratic nature of human behavior and decision-making.

Thank you! Let me know if I should assist you with anything else.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics 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 technology and The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from AI analysis of xkcd comics and Bureau of Larbor Statistics . You used data from 2007 to 2022

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]]
"Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research study aims to unravel the complex yet comical relationship between xkcd comics centered on technology and the quantity of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. Leveraging advanced AI analysis of xkcd comics and authoritative data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our findings surprisingly show a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2022. Our results suggest that the absurdity and wit of xkcd comics regarding technology may have a peculiar influence on the career choices in engineering, particularly in Puerto Rico.

In analyzing the data, we uncovered a striking pattern that can only be described as "mech-anical." The presence of xkcd comics lampooning technological tropes coincides with an increase in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico, prompting us to ponder whether laughter truly is the best medicine for engineering career prospects.

Moreover, the correlation observed in our study raises intriguing questions about the impact of humor and satire in popular culture on professional occupational outcomes, prompting us to consider the potential for xkcd comics to serve as unintentional recruitment tools for mechanical engineering. This unexpected correlation is a testament to the unparalleled power of humor, as even in the realm of academia, a well-timed joke can yield significant and thought-provoking results.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
In the realm of academic inquiry, seemingly unrelated phenomena are often found to be interconnected through intricate and unexpected associations. Such is the case with the present study, which delves into the seemingly disparate realms of webcomics and engineering occupation trends. The phenomenon under investigation is the correlation between the publication of xkcd comics on technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. One might say we are delving into the "nuts and bolts" of this relationship.
The webcomic xkcd, created by Randall Munroe, is known for its witty and irreverent take on various aspects of science, technology, and geek culture. The series employs clever humor and visual puns to dissect and reinterpret complex technological concepts, often leaving its audience simultaneously enlightened and entertained. Certainly, Munroe's work has been described as "exhibit A" in humorously elucidating the otherwise obscure minutiae of digital design and engineering.
It may appear as though we are "engineering" a rather tenuous link between the levity of webcomics and the serious endeavor of mechanical engineering in Puerto Rico. However, our preliminary analysis indicates a striking relationship that cannot be easily brushed off as mere coincidence. This investigation aims to provide a rigorous and data-driven examination of this unexpected correlation, albeit with a sprinkle of comic relief. After all, humor "gears" our perspective in curious ways.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

Data Collection:
The first step in our research endeavor involved the acquisition of xkcd comics related to technology published between 2007 and 2022. Given the expansive nature of the xkcd archive, our team developed a sophisticated AI algorithm affectionately dubbed "ComiCog" to efficiently sift through the virtual stack of webcomics. ComiCog utilized natural language processing and image recognition techniques to identify and categorize comics with prevalent technological themes, reducing the risk of overlooking pertinent comedic nuggets. This process was, by no means, a "comic sans" endeavor, requiring meticulous programming and algorithmic fine-tuning. Members of the research team also utilized extensive manual review to validate the algorithm's findings, ensuring a comprehensive and nuanced representation of xkcd comics related to technology.

Regarding the quantitative aspect of our investigation, we harnessed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to ascertain the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico over the same time period. This digital treasure hunt through labor data was reminiscent of a quest for the fabled "Holy Grail," with the added intrigue of statistical significance waiting to be unearthed.

Throughout the data collection phase, we encountered countless iterations of "404 errors," along with the occasional "server overload" message, underscoring the arduous nature of digital data sleuthing in the 21st century. Nonetheless, our team persevered, undeterred by the comedic twists and turns encountered in this peculiar scholarly pursuit.

Data Analysis:
Once the data from xkcd comics and mechanical engineering employment figures was amassed, we proceeded to conduct a comprehensive statistical analysis. We leveraged advanced correlation and regression techniques to discern the potential relationship between the frequency of xkcd comics on technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. Our statistical toolkit included Pearson's correlation coefficient, providing a measure of the strength and direction of the linear relationship, and multiple linear regression analysis, allowing for the exploration of potential covariates and confounding factors. This meticulous analysis was akin to a cerebral dance between data points, with each statistical test revealing a tantalizing glimpse of the underlying patterns.

As with any rigorous research analysis, robust sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the stability of our findings in the face of various data perturbations and model specifications. This procedure involved experimenting with different time periods and subsets of xkcd comics, guarding against the specter of spurious correlations and fortuitous statistical artifacts. The resulting sensitivity analyses are a testament to the meticulous care with which we approached this investigation, eschewing "loose screws" in our analytical framework.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics 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 technology and The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from AI analysis of xkcd comics and Bureau of Larbor Statistics .

For the time period 2007 to 2022, you found a correlation 0.8428965, r-squared of 0.7104745, 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]]
"Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research study aims to unravel the complex yet comical relationship between xkcd comics centered on technology and the quantity of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. Leveraging advanced AI analysis of xkcd comics and authoritative data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our findings surprisingly show a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2022. Our results suggest that the absurdity and wit of xkcd comics regarding technology may have a peculiar influence on the career choices in engineering, particularly in Puerto Rico.

In analyzing the data, we uncovered a striking pattern that can only be described as "mech-anical." The presence of xkcd comics lampooning technological tropes coincides with an increase in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico, prompting us to ponder whether laughter truly is the best medicine for engineering career prospects.

Moreover, the correlation observed in our study raises intriguing questions about the impact of humor and satire in popular culture on professional occupational outcomes, prompting us to consider the potential for xkcd comics to serve as unintentional recruitment tools for mechanical engineering. This unexpected correlation is a testament to the unparalleled power of humor, as even in the realm of academia, a well-timed joke can yield significant and thought-provoking results.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
In the realm of academic inquiry, seemingly unrelated phenomena are often found to be interconnected through intricate and unexpected associations. Such is the case with the present study, which delves into the seemingly disparate realms of webcomics and engineering occupation trends. The phenomenon under investigation is the correlation between the publication of xkcd comics on technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. One might say we are delving into the "nuts and bolts" of this relationship.
The webcomic xkcd, created by Randall Munroe, is known for its witty and irreverent take on various aspects of science, technology, and geek culture. The series employs clever humor and visual puns to dissect and reinterpret complex technological concepts, often leaving its audience simultaneously enlightened and entertained. Certainly, Munroe's work has been described as "exhibit A" in humorously elucidating the otherwise obscure minutiae of digital design and engineering.
It may appear as though we are "engineering" a rather tenuous link between the levity of webcomics and the serious endeavor of mechanical engineering in Puerto Rico. However, our preliminary analysis indicates a striking relationship that cannot be easily brushed off as mere coincidence. This investigation aims to provide a rigorous and data-driven examination of this unexpected correlation, albeit with a sprinkle of comic relief. After all, humor "gears" our perspective in curious ways.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The analysis of the data revealed a strong positive correlation between the number of xkcd comics published about technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico during the years 2007 to 2022. The correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 indicates a robust relationship between these seemingly disparate variables, suggesting a concerted influence that cannot be dismissed as mere happenstance. It seems that the comedic genius of xkcd may indeed hold a punchline to the employment patterns of mechanical engineers.

The r-squared value of 0.7104745 further substantiates the strength of this correlation, indicating that approximately 71.05% of the variation in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico can be explained by the number of xkcd comics focusing on technology. This finding illustrates the considerable extent to which the proliferation of technology-related xkcd comics coincides with fluctuations in the mechanical engineering workforce, lending credence to the notion that humor may, in fact, be a driving force behind professional career choices.

This unexpected correlation leads us to contemplate the aptitude of xkcd comics in shaping occupational landscapes. Could it be that the laughter induced by these comics serves as a catalyst for the pursuit of careers in mechanical engineering? Indeed, it seems that humor has the potential to "engineer" not only mirth but also vocational aspirations, as evidenced by the intriguing connection unearthed in this study.

The results prompt us to reflect on the significance of humor and satire in popular culture and its subtle yet profound impact on the professional domain. As we unravel the enigma of this correlation, it becomes clear that the influence of humor extends beyond mere amusement and may, in the case of xkcd comics, nudge individuals towards unanticipated career paths. It appears that in the equation of professional inclinations, the variable of humor exerts a considerable and underappreciated force.

In conclusion, the findings of this study illuminate a hitherto unexplored nexus between the realm of webcomics and the landscape of mechanical engineering in Puerto Rico. Through a rigorous statistical analysis, we have established a compelling correlation that underscores the potential role of humor in shaping occupational preferences. This, in essence, is a testament to the unexpected and multifaceted impact of humor, as it subtly yet decisively influences career trajectories, even in the domain of mechanical engineering.

As we ponder the implications of these findings, one cannot help but appreciate the "comic-al" nature of this correlation, underscoring the adage that in the annals of scientific inquiry, laughter, like data, may indeed hold the key to unraveling perplexing enigmas.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics 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 technology and The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

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]]
"Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research study aims to unravel the complex yet comical relationship between xkcd comics centered on technology and the quantity of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. Leveraging advanced AI analysis of xkcd comics and authoritative data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our findings surprisingly show a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2022. Our results suggest that the absurdity and wit of xkcd comics regarding technology may have a peculiar influence on the career choices in engineering, particularly in Puerto Rico.

In analyzing the data, we uncovered a striking pattern that can only be described as "mech-anical." The presence of xkcd comics lampooning technological tropes coincides with an increase in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico, prompting us to ponder whether laughter truly is the best medicine for engineering career prospects.

Moreover, the correlation observed in our study raises intriguing questions about the impact of humor and satire in popular culture on professional occupational outcomes, prompting us to consider the potential for xkcd comics to serve as unintentional recruitment tools for mechanical engineering. This unexpected correlation is a testament to the unparalleled power of humor, as even in the realm of academia, a well-timed joke can yield significant and thought-provoking results.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
In "The Impact of Humor on Professional Decision-Making," Smith and Doe explore the influence of comedy and satire on individuals' career choices. Their findings suggest that exposure to humor, particularly in the realm of technology and engineering, can significantly impact the perception and attractiveness of related professions. This highlights the potential relevance of humor in the context of our research, where we seek to understand the influence of xkcd comics on the career trajectory of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico.
"Webcomics and Their Socio-Cultural Influence," by Jones, delves into the societal impact of webcomics, emphasizing the role of humor and satire in shaping cultural attitudes and preferences. This study provides insight into the potential significance of webcomics, such as xkcd, in influencing occupational choices, albeit in a lighthearted and amusing manner.
Now, turning to related literature outside the direct purview of our research, "The Rise of Mechanical Engineering in Contemporary Society" by Nobel and Ing wonders if the evolution of mechanical engineering could have any correlation with the rise of technology-themed humor in popular culture. Indeed, the book posits that the growth of mechanical engineering may be influenced by external socio-cultural factors, including humor and media portrayals, echoing the central theme of our investigation.
In the realm of fiction books that may have relevance to our study, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to Engineering" by Douglas Adams humorously expounds on the interplay of technology and comedy, suggesting that the amalgamation of science and absurdity could have unforeseen consequences on professional inclinations – a notion that aligns with the spirit of our undertaking.
On a lighter note, "The Cat in the Hat Learns to Code" by Dr. Seuss potentially captures the whimsical essence of technology-themed literature, reminding us that even in the world of serious inquiry, a dash of playful creativity can spark unexpected insights – much like the humorous elements we seek to unravel in the context of xkcd and mechanical engineering.
A relevant non-traditional source of information worth mentioning is the animated series "Dexter's Laboratory," which, while not directly related to the field of mechanical engineering, humorously depicts the inventive and technological prowess of the titular character, stimulating creative ruminations on the potential impact of animated content on engineering-related aspirations.
In summary, while the confluence of humor, webcomics, and engineering may appear unconventional at first glance, the varied literature reviewed points to the plausibility of unexpected connections – a testament to the multifaceted and often idiosyncratic nature of human behavior and decision-making.
Thank you! Let me know if I should assist you with anything else.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the data revealed a strong positive correlation between the number of xkcd comics published about technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico during the years 2007 to 2022. The correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 indicates a robust relationship between these seemingly disparate variables, suggesting a concerted influence that cannot be dismissed as mere happenstance. It seems that the comedic genius of xkcd may indeed hold a punchline to the employment patterns of mechanical engineers.
The r-squared value of 0.7104745 further substantiates the strength of this correlation, indicating that approximately 71.05% of the variation in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico can be explained by the number of xkcd comics focusing on technology. This finding illustrates the considerable extent to which the proliferation of technology-related xkcd comics coincides with fluctuations in the mechanical engineering workforce, lending credence to the notion that humor may, in fact, be a driving force behind professional career choices.
This unexpected correlation leads us to contemplate the aptitude of xkcd comics in shaping occupational landscapes. Could it be that the laughter induced by these comics serves as a catalyst for the pursuit of careers in mechanical engineering? Indeed, it seems that humor has the potential to "engineer" not only mirth but also vocational aspirations, as evidenced by the intriguing connection unearthed in this study.
The results prompt us to reflect on the significance of humor and satire in popular culture and its subtle yet profound impact on the professional domain. As we unravel the enigma of this correlation, it becomes clear that the influence of humor extends beyond mere amusement and may, in the case of xkcd comics, nudge individuals towards unanticipated career paths. It appears that in the equation of professional inclinations, the variable of humor exerts a considerable and underappreciated force.
In conclusion, the findings of this study illuminate a hitherto unexplored nexus between the realm of webcomics and the landscape of mechanical engineering in Puerto Rico. Through a rigorous statistical analysis, we have established a compelling correlation that underscores the potential role of humor in shaping occupational preferences. This, in essence, is a testament to the unexpected and multifaceted impact of humor, as it subtly yet decisively influences career trajectories, even in the domain of mechanical engineering.
As we ponder the implications of these findings, one cannot help but appreciate the "comic-al" nature of this correlation, underscoring the adage that in the annals of scientific inquiry, laughter, like data, may indeed hold the key to unraveling perplexing enigmas.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The robust correlation between the number of xkcd comics published about technology and the quantity of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico illuminates an intriguing and unexpected relationship. Our findings align with prior research by Smith and Doe, who highlighted the potential impact of humor, particularly in the context of technology and engineering, on individuals' career choices. The statistical significance of this correlation lends credence to the notion that laughter, even in the form of webcomics, may play a noteworthy role in shaping occupational trajectories, leading us to ponder whether the comic genius of xkcd holds a far-reaching influence in the domain of mechanical engineering.

In a similarly eyebrow-raising vein, the correlation observed in our study resonates with Nobel and Ing's musings on the external socio-cultural factors that could influence the evolution of mechanical engineering. The unexpectedly strong correlation coefficient and r-squared value in our analysis suggest that the rise of technology-themed humor in popular culture, as exemplified by xkcd comics, indeed coincides with fluctuations in the mechanical engineering workforce in Puerto Rico, underscoring the potential impact of external influences on professional inclinations.

The unexpected correlation we unveiled aptly mirrors the whimsical nature of the literature we reviewed, and as Douglas Adams humorously expounds in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to Engineering," the fusion of science and absurdity could yield unforeseen consequences on career preferences. Our results offer empirical evidence that aligns with the light-hearted yet thought-provoking assertions of these literary works, emphasizing the unforeseen influence of humor and satire on professional aspirations.

The statistical strength of the correlation raises thought-provoking questions about the societal impact of humorous webcomics on professional occupational outcomes, echoing the findings of Jones in "Webcomics and Their Socio-Cultural Influence." The unexpected and "mech-anical" correlation underscores the potential relevance of webcomics, such as xkcd, in shaping career choices, thus shedding light on the whimsical yet substantial impact of popular culture on professional occupational paths.

In unraveling the peculiar connection between xkcd comics on technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico, our study speaks to the unparalleled potency of humor as an inadvertent influencer of career trajectories. The unexpected nature of this correlation underscores the unanticipated and multifaceted impact of humor, demonstrating that even in the staid realm of mechanical engineering, a well-placed joke may hold the key to understanding career choices.

As we contemplate the implications of these findings, one cannot help but appreciate the "comic-al" nature of this correlation, underscoring the adage that in the annals of scientific inquiry, laughter, like data, may indeed hold the key to unraveling perplexing enigmas. This compelling and unexpected correlation between xkcd comics and mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico serves as a cogent reminder of the often whimsical and idiosyncratic nature of human decision-making, prompting us to consider the unassuming potential of humor to shape the professional landscape in surprising ways.

The statistical strength of this correlation tacitly underscores the potent influence of humor, prompting us to reflect on the subtle yet profound impact of laughter in the professional domain. It appears that, in the equation of professional inclinations, the variable of humor exerts a considerable, albeit underappreciated, force – a notion that aligns with the unexpected and multifaceted impact of humor elegantly embodied by our findings.

In essence, this unexpected correlation challenges traditional notions of career decision-making, prompting us to consider the unanticipated influence of humor on occupational preferences. Our study offers empirical evidence that underscores the poignant capacity of laughter, even in the form of webcomics, to act as a subtle but substantial catalyst in shaping vocational aspirations, a notion that truly exemplifies the power of humor in the enigmatic realm of career choices.

In conclusion, the findings of this study not only reflect the striking interplay between webcomics and mechanical engineering but also highlight the profound, albeit indirect, influence of humor on professional occupational pathways. This unexpected correlation is a testament to the whimsical and far-reaching impact of humor, reminding us that even in the sphere of academia, a well-timed joke can yield significant and thought-provoking results.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics 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 technology and The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

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]]
"Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research study aims to unravel the complex yet comical relationship between xkcd comics centered on technology and the quantity of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. Leveraging advanced AI analysis of xkcd comics and authoritative data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our findings surprisingly show a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2022. Our results suggest that the absurdity and wit of xkcd comics regarding technology may have a peculiar influence on the career choices in engineering, particularly in Puerto Rico.

In analyzing the data, we uncovered a striking pattern that can only be described as "mech-anical." The presence of xkcd comics lampooning technological tropes coincides with an increase in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico, prompting us to ponder whether laughter truly is the best medicine for engineering career prospects.

Moreover, the correlation observed in our study raises intriguing questions about the impact of humor and satire in popular culture on professional occupational outcomes, prompting us to consider the potential for xkcd comics to serve as unintentional recruitment tools for mechanical engineering. This unexpected correlation is a testament to the unparalleled power of humor, as even in the realm of academia, a well-timed joke can yield significant and thought-provoking results.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
In the realm of academic inquiry, seemingly unrelated phenomena are often found to be interconnected through intricate and unexpected associations. Such is the case with the present study, which delves into the seemingly disparate realms of webcomics and engineering occupation trends. The phenomenon under investigation is the correlation between the publication of xkcd comics on technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. One might say we are delving into the "nuts and bolts" of this relationship.
The webcomic xkcd, created by Randall Munroe, is known for its witty and irreverent take on various aspects of science, technology, and geek culture. The series employs clever humor and visual puns to dissect and reinterpret complex technological concepts, often leaving its audience simultaneously enlightened and entertained. Certainly, Munroe's work has been described as "exhibit A" in humorously elucidating the otherwise obscure minutiae of digital design and engineering.
It may appear as though we are "engineering" a rather tenuous link between the levity of webcomics and the serious endeavor of mechanical engineering in Puerto Rico. However, our preliminary analysis indicates a striking relationship that cannot be easily brushed off as mere coincidence. This investigation aims to provide a rigorous and data-driven examination of this unexpected correlation, albeit with a sprinkle of comic relief. After all, humor "gears" our perspective in curious ways.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the data revealed a strong positive correlation between the number of xkcd comics published about technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico during the years 2007 to 2022. The correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 indicates a robust relationship between these seemingly disparate variables, suggesting a concerted influence that cannot be dismissed as mere happenstance. It seems that the comedic genius of xkcd may indeed hold a punchline to the employment patterns of mechanical engineers.
The r-squared value of 0.7104745 further substantiates the strength of this correlation, indicating that approximately 71.05% of the variation in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico can be explained by the number of xkcd comics focusing on technology. This finding illustrates the considerable extent to which the proliferation of technology-related xkcd comics coincides with fluctuations in the mechanical engineering workforce, lending credence to the notion that humor may, in fact, be a driving force behind professional career choices.
This unexpected correlation leads us to contemplate the aptitude of xkcd comics in shaping occupational landscapes. Could it be that the laughter induced by these comics serves as a catalyst for the pursuit of careers in mechanical engineering? Indeed, it seems that humor has the potential to "engineer" not only mirth but also vocational aspirations, as evidenced by the intriguing connection unearthed in this study.
The results prompt us to reflect on the significance of humor and satire in popular culture and its subtle yet profound impact on the professional domain. As we unravel the enigma of this correlation, it becomes clear that the influence of humor extends beyond mere amusement and may, in the case of xkcd comics, nudge individuals towards unanticipated career paths. It appears that in the equation of professional inclinations, the variable of humor exerts a considerable and underappreciated force.
In conclusion, the findings of this study illuminate a hitherto unexplored nexus between the realm of webcomics and the landscape of mechanical engineering in Puerto Rico. Through a rigorous statistical analysis, we have established a compelling correlation that underscores the potential role of humor in shaping occupational preferences. This, in essence, is a testament to the unexpected and multifaceted impact of humor, as it subtly yet decisively influences career trajectories, even in the domain of mechanical engineering.
As we ponder the implications of these findings, one cannot help but appreciate the "comic-al" nature of this correlation, underscoring the adage that in the annals of scientific inquiry, laughter, like data, may indeed hold the key to unraveling perplexing enigmas.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In light of the robust correlation between xkcd comics on technology and the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico, it is clear that the influence of humor extends beyond mere amusement and may nudge individuals towards unanticipated career paths. This raises the question: are xkcd comics inadvertently engineering the future workforce? It seems that laughter truly may be the best "engineer" of all, shaping not only momentary chuckles, but also long-term professional inclinations.

Furthermore, the significant impact of humor and satire on occupational landscapes underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted influences that shape career choices. In the case of mechanical engineering in Puerto Rico, the unexpected nexus with xkcd comics invites further reflection on the potential for unconventional sources of influence in vocational trajectories. One might even say that webcomics are quietly "screw-driving" the choices of future engineers.

In light of these findings, it is evident that no further research in this area is needed, as this investigation has satisfactorily unveiled the perplexing yet comically intertwined relationship between xkcd technology comics and the prevalence of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. It seems that in the grand symphony of occupational decision-making, humor plays an unexpectedly prominent and melody-shaping role. As such, let us bow out of this study with a quip and a chuckle, for in the words of a true dad joke enthusiast, "I used to be a mechanical engineer, but I just didn't have the 'drive' for it – I preferred 'punning' around instead!"


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 Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

International Journal of Humor Studies


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 Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Society for Humorous Engineering Research and Analysis


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 Engineered Laughter: Exploring the Correlation between xkcd Comics on Technology and the Number of Mechanical Engineers in Puerto Rico with an abstract of This research study aims to unravel the complex yet comical relationship between xkcd comics centered on technology and the quantity of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico. Leveraging advanced AI analysis of xkcd comics and authoritative data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our findings surprisingly show a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.8428965 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2022. Our results suggest that the absurdity and wit of xkcd comics regarding technology may have a peculiar influence on the career choices in engineering, particularly in Puerto Rico.
In analyzing the data, we uncovered a striking pattern that can only be described as "mech-anical." The presence of xkcd comics lampooning technological tropes coincides with an increase in the number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico, prompting us to ponder whether laughter truly is the best medicine for engineering career prospects.
Moreover, the correlation observed in our study raises intriguing questions about the impact of humor and satire in popular culture on professional occupational outcomes, prompting us to consider the potential for xkcd comics to serve as unintentional recruitment tools for mechanical engineering. This unexpected correlation is a testament to the unparalleled power of humor, as even in the realm of academia, a well-timed joke can yield significant and thought-provoking results.

ChatGPT:

xkcd comics, technology, mechanical engineers, Puerto Rico, correlation analysis, AI analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, career choices, engineering, humor in popular culture, satire, professional occupational outcomes, recruitment tools

*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 technology
Detailed data title: The number of xkcd comics published each year about technology
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 technology

The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico
Detailed data title: BLS estimate of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico
Source: Bureau of Larbor Statistics
See what else correlates with The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico

Correlation r = 0.8428965 (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 = 0.7104745 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 71% of the change in the one variable (i.e., The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., xkcd comics published about technology) over the 16 years from 2007 through 2022.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 4.1E-5. 0.0000413672767688731800000000
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 0.84 in 0.0041% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 24,174 random variables You don't actually need 24 thousand variables to find a correlation like this one. You can also correlate variables that are not independent. I do this a lot.

p-value calculations are useful for understanding the probability of a result happening by chance. They are most useful when used to highlight the risk of a fluke outcome. For example, if you calculate a p-value of 0.30, the risk that the result is a fluke is high. It is good to know that! But there are lots of ways to get a p-value of less than 0.01, as evidenced by this project.

Just to be clear: I'm being completely transparent about the calculations. There is no math trickery. This is just how statistics shakes out when you calculate hundreds of millions of random correlations.
with the same 15 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 15 because we have two variables measured over a period of 16 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.

[ 0.6, 0.94 ] 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.
2007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
xkcd comics published about technology (xkcd comics)13113156441057231
The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico (Mechanical Engineers)4904604404908208408709307409501190960990680650500




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([1,3,1,1,3,1,5,6,4,4,10,5,7,2,3,1,])
array_2 = np.array([490,460,440,490,820,840,870,930,740,950,1190,960,990,680,650,500,])
array_1_name = "xkcd comics published about technology"
array_2_name = "The number of mechanical engineers in Puerto Rico"

# 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 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: 1389 · Black Variable ID: 20031 · Red Variable ID: 16663
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