about · email me · subscribe
Spurious correlation #2,496 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Popularity of the first name Johnny and the second variable is Burglaries in New Hampshire.  The chart goes from 1985 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

It turns out there was a secret underground network of mischievous Johnnys who were all about causing trouble. With fewer Johnnys around, there was a notable decrease in rogue antics and shenanigans. The Johnny Effect strikes again!

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image that combines the style "A funny image you would see on reddit" with the scene in a quiet New Hampshire neighborhood. Create an illustration featuring a deserted "Johnny Lane" with locked houses and a "Neighborhood Watch" sign at the entrance. In the background, depict a group of kids playing freely on the street while their parents chat with one another feeling secure in the decreasing crime rate. Capture the peaceful yet quirky essence of the scene in the visual. 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: Popularity of the first name Johnny and Burglaries in New Hampshire. 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: Hyper-realistic Woodblock painting Futuristic a funny image you would see on reddit An image that looks like it is a scene from 'Star Wars'
ChatGPT: A funny image you would see on reddit

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 Popularity of the first name Johnny and Burglaries in New Hampshire, in the following situation: Parents stopped naming their kids Johnny, so there were fewer "Johnny-come-latelys" trying to break into homes.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a quiet New Hampshire neighborhood, a street sign reads "Johnny Lane," but the once bustling thoroughfare is now deserted. The houses along the lane have their doors and windows securely locked, and a "Neighborhood Watch" sign stands tall at the entrance. A group of kids play freely on the street, and the parents chat with each other, feeling secure in the decreasing crime rate.

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 funny image you would see on reddit ] and depicting this scene: In a quiet New Hampshire neighborhood, a street sign reads "Johnny Lane," but the once bustling thoroughfare is now deserted. The houses along the lane have their doors and windows securely locked, and a "Neighborhood Watch" sign stands tall at the entrance. A group of kids play freely on the street, and the parents chat with each other, feeling secure in the decreasing crime rate. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image that combines the style "A funny image you would see on reddit" with the scene in a quiet New Hampshire neighborhood. Create an illustration featuring a deserted "Johnny Lane" with locked houses and a "Neighborhood Watch" sign at the entrance. In the background, depict a group of kids playing freely on the street while their parents chat with one another feeling secure in the decreasing crime rate. Capture the peaceful yet quirky essence of the scene in the visual.

*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 Popularity of the first name Johnny caused Burglaries in New Hampshire to decrease.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire

The Journal of Quirky Sociological 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 goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.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 Popularity of the first name Johnny and Burglaries in New Hampshire. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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

Your research team used data from US Social Security Administration and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 and p < 0.01 for 1985 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]]
"Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study investigates the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the occurrence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. Leveraging comprehensive data from the US Social Security Administration and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team delves into this unconventional area at the intersection of sociology and criminology. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 and a p-value less than 0.01 during the years 1985 to 2022, the evidence suggests a strong relationship between the two variables.

Looking at the data, it becomes clear that there may be something to the adage "As Johnny's star rises, so does crime." It seems that not only Johnny's charisma but also his name may have an impact on the burglary rates. It's as if naming your child Johnny not only sets them up for a lifetime of Dad jokes, but also potentially increases the odds of criminal mischief in the neighborhood. Our findings challenge traditional assumptions about the influence of personal names on societal phenomena, and they call for further studies in this quirky yet surprisingly impactful realm of research.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.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 Popularity of the first name Johnny and Burglaries in New Hampshire. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study investigates the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the occurrence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. Leveraging comprehensive data from the US Social Security Administration and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team delves into this unconventional area at the intersection of sociology and criminology. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 and a p-value less than 0.01 during the years 1985 to 2022, the evidence suggests a strong relationship between the two variables.

Looking at the data, it becomes clear that there may be something to the adage "As Johnny's star rises, so does crime." It seems that not only Johnny's charisma but also his name may have an impact on the burglary rates. It's as if naming your child Johnny not only sets them up for a lifetime of Dad jokes, but also potentially increases the odds of criminal mischief in the neighborhood. Our findings challenge traditional assumptions about the influence of personal names on societal phenomena, and they call for further studies in this quirky yet surprisingly impactful realm of research.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

The relationship between personal names and societal trends has long been an understudied area in the fields of sociology and criminology. Names carry significant cultural and social symbolism, and it is not uncommon for individuals to wonder whether their names have any influence on their lives. "Johnny" is a classic name with various connotations, often associated with laid-back attitudes, a fondness for fast cars, and a penchant for leather jackets. However, our research aims to uncover a less savory aspect of the name's impact – its potential correlation with burglaries in New Hampshire.

It's no secret that the name "Johnny" has a certain charm, but could it also hold an unexpected statistical charm in relation to crime rates? While the idea may elicit a chuckle at first, our findings suggest that the relationship between the popularity of the name "Johnny" and burglary occurrences in New Hampshire is no laughing matter.

The inclusion of "Johnny" jokes in the analysis is not merely a frivolous pursuit; it's an acknowledgment of the impact names can have on our perceptions and behaviors. We're not just crunching numbers here; we're also giving a nod to the cultural significance of name associations. After all, what's a research paper without a pun or two to lighten the mood?

As we delve into the data, we must approach this study with a sense of humor, for it is through this lens that we can truly appreciate the unexpected connections that emerge. Much like a successful stand-up act, our research seeks to uncover the punchline hidden within the correlation between name popularity and criminal activity. In doing so, we hope to inject some levity into the often solemn world of academia.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.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 Popularity of the first name Johnny and Burglaries in New Hampshire. 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 name some movies that you watched that are tangentially related to the topic.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study investigates the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the occurrence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. Leveraging comprehensive data from the US Social Security Administration and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team delves into this unconventional area at the intersection of sociology and criminology. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 and a p-value less than 0.01 during the years 1985 to 2022, the evidence suggests a strong relationship between the two variables.

Looking at the data, it becomes clear that there may be something to the adage "As Johnny's star rises, so does crime." It seems that not only Johnny's charisma but also his name may have an impact on the burglary rates. It's as if naming your child Johnny not only sets them up for a lifetime of Dad jokes, but also potentially increases the odds of criminal mischief in the neighborhood. Our findings challenge traditional assumptions about the influence of personal names on societal phenomena, and they call for further studies in this quirky yet surprisingly impactful realm of research.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The relationship between personal names and societal trends has long been an understudied area in the fields of sociology and criminology. Names carry significant cultural and social symbolism, and it is not uncommon for individuals to wonder whether their names have any influence on their lives. "Johnny" is a classic name with various connotations, often associated with laid-back attitudes, a fondness for fast cars, and a penchant for leather jackets. However, our research aims to uncover a less savory aspect of the name's impact – its potential correlation with burglaries in New Hampshire.
It's no secret that the name "Johnny" has a certain charm, but could it also hold an unexpected statistical charm in relation to crime rates? While the idea may elicit a chuckle at first, our findings suggest that the relationship between the popularity of the name "Johnny" and burglary occurrences in New Hampshire is no laughing matter.
The inclusion of "Johnny" jokes in the analysis is not merely a frivolous pursuit; it's an acknowledgment of the impact names can have on our perceptions and behaviors. We're not just crunching numbers here; we're also giving a nod to the cultural significance of name associations. After all, what's a research paper without a pun or two to lighten the mood?
As we delve into the data, we must approach this study with a sense of humor, for it is through this lens that we can truly appreciate the unexpected connections that emerge. Much like a successful stand-up act, our research seeks to uncover the punchline hidden within the correlation between name popularity and criminal activity. In doing so, we hope to inject some levity into the often solemn world of academia.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

In "Smith et al.," the authors find a significant correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the incidence of burglaries in various regions across the United States. Following this lead, "Doe and Brown" conduct a comprehensive analysis focusing specifically on the state of New Hampshire, and their findings support the initial trend observed in national data.

Now, let's hit the books. "The Name Book" by Dorothy Astoria presents a thorough compendium of names and their meanings, diving deep into the cultural and historical significance of popular names such as "Johnny." It's a great resource for understanding the symbolic weight that names carry in our society. Speaking of weight, I once knew a guy named Joe who couldn't get a single date. He was always complaining, "Why won't anyone 'weigh' Joe?!"

In "The Power of Names" by Leonard Ashley, the author explores the societal impact of names, suggesting that a name can shape a person's destiny in unforeseen ways. Could it be that the rise of Johnny's popularity may inadvertently be increasing the rates of unlawfully entering Johnny's neighbor's domicile? Perhaps naming a child "Johnny" is akin to handing them a life of mischief on a silver platter. It's like setting them up to be the life of the party, but also the life of the police station lineup.

Let's take a literary detour with "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger and "Johnny Got His Gun" by Dalton Trumbo. These beloved classics feature characters named Johnny and grapple with themes of rebellion and unconventional paths in life. It's as if the name "Johnny" carries a rebellious streak that extends beyond the realm of fiction and into statistical analysis. Of course, we can't forget Johnny Depp's iconic portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean." I mean, he's basically the poster child for quirky criminal behavior, and his name isn't even Johnny in the movies! That's the power of the name "Johnny" transcending reality and fiction.

In "Ocean's Eleven" and its sequels, the charismatic character portrayed by George Clooney embodies the charm and wit associated with the name "Danny," but the spirit of the "smooth criminal" is not limited to just one name. It seems that Johnny's influence extends to other aliases, suggesting a ripple effect of mischief that knows no bounds. It's like the name "Johnny" has a magnetic pull toward mischief and mayhem, drawing perpetrators into a web of larceny like moths to a flame. Plus, if you want to understand the allure of a life of crime, you really can't beat a movie with Brad Pitt snacking during every scene. I mean, who eats that much in high-stress situations? Talk about living life on the edge.

To sum it up, it's evident from the literature and pop culture references that the name "Johnny" holds a certain allure beyond mere nomenclature. There seems to be an uncanny connection between the popularity of this name and burglaries in New Hampshire, challenging conventional wisdom and paving the way for a new frontier of research at the intersection of whimsy and statistical analysis. We're charting a course through uncharted territory, embracing the unexpected humor that arises from studying the impact of names on societal phenomena, all while defying the conventions of academic stoicism. After all, who said research had to be a serious business?


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.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 Popularity of the first name Johnny and Burglaries in New Hampshire. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from US Social Security Administration and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services . You used data from 1985 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]]
"Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study investigates the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the occurrence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. Leveraging comprehensive data from the US Social Security Administration and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team delves into this unconventional area at the intersection of sociology and criminology. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 and a p-value less than 0.01 during the years 1985 to 2022, the evidence suggests a strong relationship between the two variables.

Looking at the data, it becomes clear that there may be something to the adage "As Johnny's star rises, so does crime." It seems that not only Johnny's charisma but also his name may have an impact on the burglary rates. It's as if naming your child Johnny not only sets them up for a lifetime of Dad jokes, but also potentially increases the odds of criminal mischief in the neighborhood. Our findings challenge traditional assumptions about the influence of personal names on societal phenomena, and they call for further studies in this quirky yet surprisingly impactful realm of research.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The relationship between personal names and societal trends has long been an understudied area in the fields of sociology and criminology. Names carry significant cultural and social symbolism, and it is not uncommon for individuals to wonder whether their names have any influence on their lives. "Johnny" is a classic name with various connotations, often associated with laid-back attitudes, a fondness for fast cars, and a penchant for leather jackets. However, our research aims to uncover a less savory aspect of the name's impact – its potential correlation with burglaries in New Hampshire.
It's no secret that the name "Johnny" has a certain charm, but could it also hold an unexpected statistical charm in relation to crime rates? While the idea may elicit a chuckle at first, our findings suggest that the relationship between the popularity of the name "Johnny" and burglary occurrences in New Hampshire is no laughing matter.
The inclusion of "Johnny" jokes in the analysis is not merely a frivolous pursuit; it's an acknowledgment of the impact names can have on our perceptions and behaviors. We're not just crunching numbers here; we're also giving a nod to the cultural significance of name associations. After all, what's a research paper without a pun or two to lighten the mood?
As we delve into the data, we must approach this study with a sense of humor, for it is through this lens that we can truly appreciate the unexpected connections that emerge. Much like a successful stand-up act, our research seeks to uncover the punchline hidden within the correlation between name popularity and criminal activity. In doing so, we hope to inject some levity into the often solemn world of academia.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To comprehensively investigate the vexing enigma of Johnny's jinx, we employed a multifaceted approach, as this perplexing correlation warranted nothing less. Our research team embarked on a data collection quest, venturing into the digital depths of the US Social Security Administration's vast name archives and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services' crime statistics repository. We cast a wide net, much like an enthusiastic angler hoping to reel in the catch of the day, or in our case, the catch of the correlation.

After gathering the expansive data from the years 1985 to 2022, we huddled around our statistical cauldron, or rather, our software, to perform a concoction of analyses. We used a combination of regression models, time series analyses, and even dabbled in the mystic arts of predictive modeling to unravel the intricate relationship between the ebb and flow of Johnny's popularity and the ebb and flow of burglaries in the quaint state of New Hampshire. It was a statistical brew to rival any potion brewed at Hogwarts – a concoction that would hopefully reveal the secret recipe behind Johnny's inadvertent influence on crime.

And now, much like a magician revealing the secrets behind a dazzling illusion, let's pull back the curtain on the specific statistical techniques we unleashed upon the data. We started by employing Pearson correlation coefficients to gauge the strength and direction of the relationship between Johnny's ascent and the burglary bonanza. Next, we conducted time series analyses to discern any temporal patterns that may shed light on the waxing and waning of Johnny's impact on nefarious activities. We even dabbled in some spatial analyses to map out the geographic nuances of this unanticipated association. It was a symphony of statistical techniques, complete with dramatic crescendos and unexpected key changes – a concert for the ages, or at least for the academic community.

In addition to these analyses, we took a page out of Sherlock Holmes's playbook and engaged in the art of deductive reasoning. We delved into existing literature on the psychology of names and the sociology of identity, aiming to paint a contextual backdrop against which our empirical findings would come to life. It was an intellectual detective's chase, complete with aha moments and the occasional false lead, akin to a thrilling episode of a crime drama but with more mention of p-values and standard deviations.

Armed with these data-crunching machinations and a sense of scientific curiosity that rivaled that of a kitten presented with a ball of yarn, we set out to uncover the compelling connection between Johnny's magnetic moniker and the rather less endearing undercurrent of burglary rates in New Hampshire. It was a journey into the unknown, a statistical odyssey of epic proportions – a quest to illuminate a correlation that lay hidden beneath the surface, much like a treasure buried in the proverbial statistical sand.

Remember, it's essential to approach research with both rigor and a touch of whimsy – after all, what's a study on Johnny's jinx without a few statistical shenanigans and the occasional pun to lighten the mood?


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.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 Popularity of the first name Johnny and Burglaries in New Hampshire. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from US Social Security Administration and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services .

For the time period 1985 to 2022, you found a correlation 0.9499530, r-squared of 0.9024107, 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]]
"Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study investigates the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the occurrence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. Leveraging comprehensive data from the US Social Security Administration and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team delves into this unconventional area at the intersection of sociology and criminology. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 and a p-value less than 0.01 during the years 1985 to 2022, the evidence suggests a strong relationship between the two variables.

Looking at the data, it becomes clear that there may be something to the adage "As Johnny's star rises, so does crime." It seems that not only Johnny's charisma but also his name may have an impact on the burglary rates. It's as if naming your child Johnny not only sets them up for a lifetime of Dad jokes, but also potentially increases the odds of criminal mischief in the neighborhood. Our findings challenge traditional assumptions about the influence of personal names on societal phenomena, and they call for further studies in this quirky yet surprisingly impactful realm of research.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
The relationship between personal names and societal trends has long been an understudied area in the fields of sociology and criminology. Names carry significant cultural and social symbolism, and it is not uncommon for individuals to wonder whether their names have any influence on their lives. "Johnny" is a classic name with various connotations, often associated with laid-back attitudes, a fondness for fast cars, and a penchant for leather jackets. However, our research aims to uncover a less savory aspect of the name's impact – its potential correlation with burglaries in New Hampshire.
It's no secret that the name "Johnny" has a certain charm, but could it also hold an unexpected statistical charm in relation to crime rates? While the idea may elicit a chuckle at first, our findings suggest that the relationship between the popularity of the name "Johnny" and burglary occurrences in New Hampshire is no laughing matter.
The inclusion of "Johnny" jokes in the analysis is not merely a frivolous pursuit; it's an acknowledgment of the impact names can have on our perceptions and behaviors. We're not just crunching numbers here; we're also giving a nod to the cultural significance of name associations. After all, what's a research paper without a pun or two to lighten the mood?
As we delve into the data, we must approach this study with a sense of humor, for it is through this lens that we can truly appreciate the unexpected connections that emerge. Much like a successful stand-up act, our research seeks to uncover the punchline hidden within the correlation between name popularity and criminal activity. In doing so, we hope to inject some levity into the often solemn world of academia.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The analysis of the data revealed a striking correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the incidence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. The correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 indicates a remarkably strong relationship, suggesting that as the popularity of the name "Johnny" increased, so did the frequency of burglaries in the state.

It seems that the "Johnny" effect is not just limited to captivating audiences on stage; it may also have an unexpected influence on criminal behavior. As comedian Steven Wright might say, "I named my dog 'Johnny' because I heard the best stand-up comes from Johnny" – and our findings seem to suggest that the influence of the name extends beyond the stage and into the realm of law enforcement.

The scatterplot (Fig. 1) visually represents the powerful correlation we observed, and it serves as a stark reminder that statistical analysis can unveil surprising relationships, much like finding a hidden punchline in a seemingly ordinary situation. It's as if the data itself is delivering a punchline, revealing an unexpected twist that keeps us on our toes.

The r-squared value of 0.9024107 further demonstrates the substantial impact of Johnny's name popularity on burglary rates in New Hampshire. To put it in layman's terms, it appears that Johnny's name has some serious "breaking and entering" power in shaping societal trends. One might even say that Johnny's influence reaches far beyond just "jokes" and "punchlines."

With a p-value of less than 0.01, the statistical significance of our findings underscores the compelling nature of the relationship between the name "Johnny" and burglary occurrences. It seems that the name Johnny is not just a hit in the entertainment industry; it's also making waves in the world of criminology.

In conclusion, our research sheds light on the intriguing link between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and burglaries in New Hampshire. These findings emphasize the need for further exploration of the influence of personal names on societal phenomena. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of name associations and their impact on behavior, we must not overlook the potential significance hidden within the seemingly innocuous choice of a name.

Our study ultimately challenges conventional assumptions about the influence of personal names and their potential effects on crime rates. The existence of this link between a name and criminal behavior is a powerful reminder that in the world of research, unexpected connections can emerge, much like a well-timed punchline in a comedy routine.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.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 Popularity of the first name Johnny and Burglaries in New Hampshire. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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]]
"Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study investigates the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the occurrence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. Leveraging comprehensive data from the US Social Security Administration and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team delves into this unconventional area at the intersection of sociology and criminology. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 and a p-value less than 0.01 during the years 1985 to 2022, the evidence suggests a strong relationship between the two variables.

Looking at the data, it becomes clear that there may be something to the adage "As Johnny's star rises, so does crime." It seems that not only Johnny's charisma but also his name may have an impact on the burglary rates. It's as if naming your child Johnny not only sets them up for a lifetime of Dad jokes, but also potentially increases the odds of criminal mischief in the neighborhood. Our findings challenge traditional assumptions about the influence of personal names on societal phenomena, and they call for further studies in this quirky yet surprisingly impactful realm of research.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
In "Smith et al.," the authors find a significant correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the incidence of burglaries in various regions across the United States. Following this lead, "Doe and Brown" conduct a comprehensive analysis focusing specifically on the state of New Hampshire, and their findings support the initial trend observed in national data.
Now, let's hit the books. "The Name Book" by Dorothy Astoria presents a thorough compendium of names and their meanings, diving deep into the cultural and historical significance of popular names such as "Johnny." It's a great resource for understanding the symbolic weight that names carry in our society. Speaking of weight, I once knew a guy named Joe who couldn't get a single date. He was always complaining, "Why won't anyone 'weigh' Joe?!"
In "The Power of Names" by Leonard Ashley, the author explores the societal impact of names, suggesting that a name can shape a person's destiny in unforeseen ways. Could it be that the rise of Johnny's popularity may inadvertently be increasing the rates of unlawfully entering Johnny's neighbor's domicile? Perhaps naming a child "Johnny" is akin to handing them a life of mischief on a silver platter. It's like setting them up to be the life of the party, but also the life of the police station lineup.
Let's take a literary detour with "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger and "Johnny Got His Gun" by Dalton Trumbo. These beloved classics feature characters named Johnny and grapple with themes of rebellion and unconventional paths in life. It's as if the name "Johnny" carries a rebellious streak that extends beyond the realm of fiction and into statistical analysis. Of course, we can't forget Johnny Depp's iconic portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean." I mean, he's basically the poster child for quirky criminal behavior, and his name isn't even Johnny in the movies! That's the power of the name "Johnny" transcending reality and fiction.
In "Ocean's Eleven" and its sequels, the charismatic character portrayed by George Clooney embodies the charm and wit associated with the name "Danny," but the spirit of the "smooth criminal" is not limited to just one name. It seems that Johnny's influence extends to other aliases, suggesting a ripple effect of mischief that knows no bounds. It's like the name "Johnny" has a magnetic pull toward mischief and mayhem, drawing perpetrators into a web of larceny like moths to a flame. Plus, if you want to understand the allure of a life of crime, you really can't beat a movie with Brad Pitt snacking during every scene. I mean, who eats that much in high-stress situations? Talk about living life on the edge.
To sum it up, it's evident from the literature and pop culture references that the name "Johnny" holds a certain allure beyond mere nomenclature. There seems to be an uncanny connection between the popularity of this name and burglaries in New Hampshire, challenging conventional wisdom and paving the way for a new frontier of research at the intersection of whimsy and statistical analysis. We're charting a course through uncharted territory, embracing the unexpected humor that arises from studying the impact of names on societal phenomena, all while defying the conventions of academic stoicism. After all, who said research had to be a serious business?

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the data revealed a striking correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the incidence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. The correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 indicates a remarkably strong relationship, suggesting that as the popularity of the name "Johnny" increased, so did the frequency of burglaries in the state.
It seems that the "Johnny" effect is not just limited to captivating audiences on stage; it may also have an unexpected influence on criminal behavior. As comedian Steven Wright might say, "I named my dog 'Johnny' because I heard the best stand-up comes from Johnny" – and our findings seem to suggest that the influence of the name extends beyond the stage and into the realm of law enforcement.
The scatterplot (Fig. 1) visually represents the powerful correlation we observed, and it serves as a stark reminder that statistical analysis can unveil surprising relationships, much like finding a hidden punchline in a seemingly ordinary situation. It's as if the data itself is delivering a punchline, revealing an unexpected twist that keeps us on our toes.
The r-squared value of 0.9024107 further demonstrates the substantial impact of Johnny's name popularity on burglary rates in New Hampshire. To put it in layman's terms, it appears that Johnny's name has some serious "breaking and entering" power in shaping societal trends. One might even say that Johnny's influence reaches far beyond just "jokes" and "punchlines."
With a p-value of less than 0.01, the statistical significance of our findings underscores the compelling nature of the relationship between the name "Johnny" and burglary occurrences. It seems that the name Johnny is not just a hit in the entertainment industry; it's also making waves in the world of criminology.
In conclusion, our research sheds light on the intriguing link between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and burglaries in New Hampshire. These findings emphasize the need for further exploration of the influence of personal names on societal phenomena. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of name associations and their impact on behavior, we must not overlook the potential significance hidden within the seemingly innocuous choice of a name.
Our study ultimately challenges conventional assumptions about the influence of personal names and their potential effects on crime rates. The existence of this link between a name and criminal behavior is a powerful reminder that in the world of research, unexpected connections can emerge, much like a well-timed punchline in a comedy routine.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of our study provide compelling evidence supporting the previously observed connection between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the incidence of burglaries in New Hampshire. This study extends the existing literature by offering rigorous statistical analysis to corroborate the intriguing link between the moniker "Johnny" and criminal activity. Our findings align with the work of Smith et al., as well as Doe and Brown, underscoring the consistency of this association across different geographic scales.

It's as if the findings of previous researchers were hidden in plain sight, much like a dad joke waiting to be unleashed. Speaking of which, did you hear about the kidnapping at the playground? Don't worry, he woke up – it was just a "kid" napping! Similarly, our research has awakened a dormant awareness of the potential influence of names on societal trends, revealing correlations that were previously overlooked.

The substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 points to a strong relationship between the popularity of the name "Johnny" and burglary rates, echoing the subtle yet impactful presence of a well-timed pun in daily conversation. One might say that the significance of this relationship is not just statistically strong, but also rhetorically "punny".

Moreover, our results mirror the previous literature's emphasis on the symbolic weight carried by personal names, showcasing how the rise of Johnny's popularity may inadvertently be tied to increased rates of unlawful entries. It's as if naming a child "Johnny" sets them up for a life of mischief and mayhem, akin to handing them a "get out of jail free" card with their birth certificate.

The findings not only highlight the potential impact of names on criminal behavior but also challenge traditional assumptions regarding the far-reaching influence of seemingly innocuous choices, much like a well-constructed punchline challenging the audience's assumptions about a joke. It's a reminder that in the world of research, unexpected connections can emerge like a punchline in a comedy routine, surprising and thought-provoking.

In conclusion, our study offers a fresh perspective on the quirky yet impactful realm of name associations and their potential effects on societal phenomena. It demonstrates the need for further investigation into the influence of personal names on behavioral patterns, inviting researchers to delve deeper into this uncharted territory at the intersection of whimsy and statistical analysis. After all, who said research had to be a serious business?


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.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 Popularity of the first name Johnny and Burglaries in New Hampshire. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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]]
"Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study investigates the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the occurrence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. Leveraging comprehensive data from the US Social Security Administration and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team delves into this unconventional area at the intersection of sociology and criminology. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 and a p-value less than 0.01 during the years 1985 to 2022, the evidence suggests a strong relationship between the two variables.

Looking at the data, it becomes clear that there may be something to the adage "As Johnny's star rises, so does crime." It seems that not only Johnny's charisma but also his name may have an impact on the burglary rates. It's as if naming your child Johnny not only sets them up for a lifetime of Dad jokes, but also potentially increases the odds of criminal mischief in the neighborhood. Our findings challenge traditional assumptions about the influence of personal names on societal phenomena, and they call for further studies in this quirky yet surprisingly impactful realm of research.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The relationship between personal names and societal trends has long been an understudied area in the fields of sociology and criminology. Names carry significant cultural and social symbolism, and it is not uncommon for individuals to wonder whether their names have any influence on their lives. "Johnny" is a classic name with various connotations, often associated with laid-back attitudes, a fondness for fast cars, and a penchant for leather jackets. However, our research aims to uncover a less savory aspect of the name's impact – its potential correlation with burglaries in New Hampshire.
It's no secret that the name "Johnny" has a certain charm, but could it also hold an unexpected statistical charm in relation to crime rates? While the idea may elicit a chuckle at first, our findings suggest that the relationship between the popularity of the name "Johnny" and burglary occurrences in New Hampshire is no laughing matter.
The inclusion of "Johnny" jokes in the analysis is not merely a frivolous pursuit; it's an acknowledgment of the impact names can have on our perceptions and behaviors. We're not just crunching numbers here; we're also giving a nod to the cultural significance of name associations. After all, what's a research paper without a pun or two to lighten the mood?
As we delve into the data, we must approach this study with a sense of humor, for it is through this lens that we can truly appreciate the unexpected connections that emerge. Much like a successful stand-up act, our research seeks to uncover the punchline hidden within the correlation between name popularity and criminal activity. In doing so, we hope to inject some levity into the often solemn world of academia.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the data revealed a striking correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the incidence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. The correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 indicates a remarkably strong relationship, suggesting that as the popularity of the name "Johnny" increased, so did the frequency of burglaries in the state.
It seems that the "Johnny" effect is not just limited to captivating audiences on stage; it may also have an unexpected influence on criminal behavior. As comedian Steven Wright might say, "I named my dog 'Johnny' because I heard the best stand-up comes from Johnny" – and our findings seem to suggest that the influence of the name extends beyond the stage and into the realm of law enforcement.
The scatterplot (Fig. 1) visually represents the powerful correlation we observed, and it serves as a stark reminder that statistical analysis can unveil surprising relationships, much like finding a hidden punchline in a seemingly ordinary situation. It's as if the data itself is delivering a punchline, revealing an unexpected twist that keeps us on our toes.
The r-squared value of 0.9024107 further demonstrates the substantial impact of Johnny's name popularity on burglary rates in New Hampshire. To put it in layman's terms, it appears that Johnny's name has some serious "breaking and entering" power in shaping societal trends. One might even say that Johnny's influence reaches far beyond just "jokes" and "punchlines."
With a p-value of less than 0.01, the statistical significance of our findings underscores the compelling nature of the relationship between the name "Johnny" and burglary occurrences. It seems that the name Johnny is not just a hit in the entertainment industry; it's also making waves in the world of criminology.
In conclusion, our research sheds light on the intriguing link between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and burglaries in New Hampshire. These findings emphasize the need for further exploration of the influence of personal names on societal phenomena. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of name associations and their impact on behavior, we must not overlook the potential significance hidden within the seemingly innocuous choice of a name.
Our study ultimately challenges conventional assumptions about the influence of personal names and their potential effects on crime rates. The existence of this link between a name and criminal behavior is a powerful reminder that in the world of research, unexpected connections can emerge, much like a well-timed punchline in a comedy routine.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In wrapping up this investigation into the connection between the popularity of the name "Johnny" and burglaries in New Hampshire, it's clear that there's more to this name than meets the eye. Perhaps it's not just the name that's Johnny, but rather the name that's "Don't-leave-your-house-unattended-y." *Ba-dum-tss!* It seems that as this classic moniker gains prominence, so does the likelihood of unwanted visitors knocking on doors – or perhaps just walking in uninvited.

Our findings serve as a reminder that in the world of research, even seemingly unrelated variables can form unexpected connections. It's as if the data itself is cracking a joke, revealing the punchline in an otherwise serious analysis. Who knew that statistical analysis could lead to such a "burglariously" entertaining discovery? *Wink, wink*

As with many groundbreaking studies, our research prompts further questions and inquiries. However, when it comes to the correlation between the popularity of the name "Johnny" and burglary rates in New Hampshire, it's safe to say that the case is closed. No need for any "Johnny-come-lately" studies to follow up on this – the data has spoken, and it's time to give this topic a rest.

In conclusion, this investigation provides valuable insight into the impact of personal names on societal trends, reminding us that names are more than just identifiers; they can have surprising ramifications. It's been a "crime" researching this! But fear not, for the "Johnny" effect is now a well-documented phenomenon in the annals of quirky but impactful research.

No further research needed in the name of Johnny and burglaries in New Hampshire – case closed!


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 Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Quirky Sociological 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 Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Institute for New England Social Patterns and Trends


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 Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire with an abstract of This study investigates the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and the occurrence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. Leveraging comprehensive data from the US Social Security Administration and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team delves into this unconventional area at the intersection of sociology and criminology. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9499530 and a p-value less than 0.01 during the years 1985 to 2022, the evidence suggests a strong relationship between the two variables.
Looking at the data, it becomes clear that there may be something to the adage "As Johnny's star rises, so does crime." It seems that not only Johnny's charisma but also his name may have an impact on the burglary rates. It's as if naming your child Johnny not only sets them up for a lifetime of Dad jokes, but also potentially increases the odds of criminal mischief in the neighborhood. Our findings challenge traditional assumptions about the influence of personal names on societal phenomena, and they call for further studies in this quirky yet surprisingly impactful realm of research.

ChatGPT:

"Johnny popularity burglary correlation", "sociology criminology name influence", "US Social Security Administration FBI data correlation", "Johnny name crime rates New Hampshire", "impact of personal names on societal phenomena"

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



Random correlation

Discover a new correlation

View all correlations

View all research papers

Report an error


Data details

Popularity of the first name Johnny
Detailed data title: Babies of all sexes born in the US named Johnny
Source: US Social Security Administration
See what else correlates with Popularity of the first name Johnny

Burglaries in New Hampshire
Detailed data title: The burglary rate per 100,000 residents in New Hampshire
Source: FBI Criminal Justice Information Services
See what else correlates with Burglaries in New Hampshire

Correlation r = 0.9499530 (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 = 0.9024107 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 90.2% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Burglaries in New Hampshire) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Popularity of the first name Johnny) over the 38 years from 1985 through 2022.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 8.9E-20. 0.0000000000000000000893477283
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 0.95 in 8.9E-18% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 11,192,226,361,282,875,392 random variables You don't actually need 11 quintillion variables to find a correlation like this one. I don't have that many variables in my database. 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.

In this particular case, the values are so extreme as to be meaningless. That's why no one reports p-values with specificity after they drop below 0.01.

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 37 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 37 because we have two variables measured over a period of 38 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.

[ 0.91, 0.97 ] 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.
19851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Popularity of the first name Johnny (Babies born)22302231223022892311249722602116197619641703161714771494150214701546144913751327140014631512148313531301125712481336119411591047978953852798724800
Burglaries in New Hampshire (Burglary rate)762.3755694.8682.7736.9735.5735.4621.9515.1463.9418.6435.7393.2325.1307.9404388.2379.6356.1383.2320.8334.2385.6324.2371.1413.4473.8453.1399.4315.6261.8223.9189.2141131103.373.773.5




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([2230,2231,2230,2289,2311,2497,2260,2116,1976,1964,1703,1617,1477,1494,1502,1470,1546,1449,1375,1327,1400,1463,1512,1483,1353,1301,1257,1248,1336,1194,1159,1047,978,953,852,798,724,800,])
array_2 = np.array([762.3,755,694.8,682.7,736.9,735.5,735.4,621.9,515.1,463.9,418.6,435.7,393.2,325.1,307.9,404,388.2,379.6,356.1,383.2,320.8,334.2,385.6,324.2,371.1,413.4,473.8,453.1,399.4,315.6,261.8,223.9,189.2,141,131,103.3,73.7,73.5,])
array_1_name = "Popularity of the first name Johnny"
array_2_name = "Burglaries in New Hampshire"

# 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)



Reuseable content

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.

Full license details.
For more on re-use permissions, or to get a signed release form, see tylervigen.com/permission.

Download images for these variables:


View another random correlation

How fun was this correlation?

Cheers to you for rating this correlation!


Correlation ID: 2496 · Black Variable ID: 2357 · Red Variable ID: 20107
about · subscribe · emailme@tylervigen.com · twitter

CC BY 4.0