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Spurious correlation #2,659 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the second variable is Lululemon's stock price (LULU).  The chart goes from 2012 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

As more people became qualified to analyze behavior, they discovered that the desire to wear stretchy pants while sipping a $12 green juice was deeply rooted in the human psyche. This insight led to a surge in demand for Lululemon products, driving up their stock price.

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Prompt: Generate an image showcasing a futuristic university town square bustling with activity. Several graduates dressed in futuristic Master's degree robes are proudly displaying their Psychology degrees, exchanging congratulations and excitement. In the backdrop, a sleek Lululemon store with a prominent digital display highlights the soaring stock price (LULU) alongside illuminated yoga pants on display. Surrounding the store, psychologists are seen purchasing yoga pants in abundance, symbolizing the trend of utilizing these garments as a coping mechanism for stress. The scene captures a futuristic, vibrant fusion of academic achievement, commerce, and psychology-driven consumer behavior. 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: Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price (LULU). 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: An image that looks like it is a scene from 'Star Wars' Futuristic Whimsical illustration Cute 2D animation Concept art
ChatGPT: Futuristic

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 Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price (LULU), in the following situation: Increased demand for yoga pants to cope with nervous breakdowns from grad school stress. Lululemon's stock soared as psychologists bought out their inventory for therapeutic purposes.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a bustling university town, a group of graduates proudly hold their Master's degrees in Psychology, celebrating their hard-earned achievements. Nearby, a Lululemon store displays a prominent sign showing the soaring stock price (LULU) as the demand for their yoga pants skyrockets. The store is seeing an influx of psychologists purchasing yoga pants as a coping mechanism for their stressed-out clients, causing the stock price to surge.

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: [ Futuristic ] and depicting this scene: In a bustling university town, a group of graduates proudly hold their Master's degrees in Psychology, celebrating their hard-earned achievements. Nearby, a Lululemon store displays a prominent sign showing the soaring stock price (LULU) as the demand for their yoga pants skyrockets. The store is seeing an influx of psychologists purchasing yoga pants as a coping mechanism for their stressed-out clients, causing the stock price to surge. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Prompt: Generate an image showcasing a futuristic university town square bustling with activity. Several graduates dressed in futuristic Master's degree robes are proudly displaying their Psychology degrees, exchanging congratulations and excitement. In the backdrop, a sleek Lululemon store with a prominent digital display highlights the soaring stock price (LULU) alongside illuminated yoga pants on display. Surrounding the store, psychologists are seen purchasing yoga pants in abundance, symbolizing the trend of utilizing these garments as a coping mechanism for stress. The scene captures a futuristic, vibrant fusion of academic achievement, commerce, and psychology-driven consumer behavior.

*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 an increase in Master's degrees awarded in Psychology caused Lululemon's stock price (LULU) to increase.\Make it sound serious until the end.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success

The Journal of Consumer Behavior and Mental Economies

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 silly researcher writing an academic paper.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 Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price (LULU). You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Make the title a clever pun.

Your research team used data from National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv) to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 and p < 0.01 for 2012 to 2021.

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]]
"Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we delve into the curious correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of the athletic apparel company Lululemon (LULU). As researchers who believe in the power of positive thinking and good humor, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to find out if there's a psychological connection to Lululemon's success.

Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we applied rigorous statistical methods to analyze the relationship between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the movements of Lululemon's stock price from 2012 to 2021. Our findings revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 and a robustly significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong association between these two variables. It seems that when it comes to understanding Lululemon's success, psychology may hold the key. Time to stretch our minds and perceptions!

In conclusion, our research has shed light on the surprising and previously unexplored association between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As we unravel the mysteries of the mind and the stock market, we must remember the sage advice of our favorite dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!"


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.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 Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price (LULU). 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]]
"Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we delve into the curious correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of the athletic apparel company Lululemon (LULU). As researchers who believe in the power of positive thinking and good humor, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to find out if there's a psychological connection to Lululemon's success.

Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we applied rigorous statistical methods to analyze the relationship between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the movements of Lululemon's stock price from 2012 to 2021. Our findings revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 and a robustly significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong association between these two variables. It seems that when it comes to understanding Lululemon's success, psychology may hold the key. Time to stretch our minds and perceptions!

In conclusion, our research has shed light on the surprising and previously unexplored association between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As we unravel the mysteries of the mind and the stock market, we must remember the sage advice of our favorite dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!"

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of a Lululemon athleisure wardrobe must be in want of a stock portfolio. In recent years, the success of Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) has been as remarkable as the stretchiness of their yoga pants. At the same time, the field of psychology has been flexing its intellectual muscles, with an increasing number of Master's degrees awarded in this discipline. The intriguing question arose: could there be a psychological connection to Lululemon's success? As researchers, we couldn't resist the temptation to dive into this curious correlation and see if there's more to this relationship than meets the eye.

Undoubtedly, the intersection of psychology and stock prices is a topic of great interest. However, for decades, the connection between Lululemon's stock performance and the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology has been a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. With a playful wink to Freud, we embarked on a journey to explore the id, ego, and superego of this relationship, attempting to bring light to the depths of the human mind and the stock market (pun intended).

Our study aims to unravel the appeal of Lululemon's stock performance by looking at the psychological forces at play. As our findings started to illuminate the connection between these two disparate realms, we couldn't help but think, "Why did the stock market analyst go to therapy? To get to the bottom of those deep market blues!" Just like the stock market, our research is not without its share of ups and downs - but we don't intend to stretch the truth.

In the following sections, we will present the methodology and findings of our research, aiming to shed light on the intriguing relationship between the field of psychology and the financial prosperity of Lululemon. As we delve into the psychological underpinnings of Lululemon's success, always remember the wise words of a dad's favorite joke: "I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug."


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.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 Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price (LULU). 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 cite some social media posts you read that seem to be related.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we delve into the curious correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of the athletic apparel company Lululemon (LULU). As researchers who believe in the power of positive thinking and good humor, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to find out if there's a psychological connection to Lululemon's success.

Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we applied rigorous statistical methods to analyze the relationship between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the movements of Lululemon's stock price from 2012 to 2021. Our findings revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 and a robustly significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong association between these two variables. It seems that when it comes to understanding Lululemon's success, psychology may hold the key. Time to stretch our minds and perceptions!

In conclusion, our research has shed light on the surprising and previously unexplored association between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As we unravel the mysteries of the mind and the stock market, we must remember the sage advice of our favorite dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!"

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of a Lululemon athleisure wardrobe must be in want of a stock portfolio. In recent years, the success of Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) has been as remarkable as the stretchiness of their yoga pants. At the same time, the field of psychology has been flexing its intellectual muscles, with an increasing number of Master's degrees awarded in this discipline. The intriguing question arose: could there be a psychological connection to Lululemon's success? As researchers, we couldn't resist the temptation to dive into this curious correlation and see if there's more to this relationship than meets the eye.
Undoubtedly, the intersection of psychology and stock prices is a topic of great interest. However, for decades, the connection between Lululemon's stock performance and the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology has been a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. With a playful wink to Freud, we embarked on a journey to explore the id, ego, and superego of this relationship, attempting to bring light to the depths of the human mind and the stock market (pun intended).
Our study aims to unravel the appeal of Lululemon's stock performance by looking at the psychological forces at play. As our findings started to illuminate the connection between these two disparate realms, we couldn't help but think, "Why did the stock market analyst go to therapy? To get to the bottom of those deep market blues!" Just like the stock market, our research is not without its share of ups and downs - but we don't intend to stretch the truth.
In the following sections, we will present the methodology and findings of our research, aiming to shed light on the intriguing relationship between the field of psychology and the financial prosperity of Lululemon. As we delve into the psychological underpinnings of Lululemon's success, always remember the wise words of a dad's favorite joke: "I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

In a study by Smith et al. (2019), it was observed that the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology has been steadily increasing over the past decade. This trend raises an interesting question: could the surge in psychology degrees be influencing not just our minds, but perhaps our wallets as well? As we immerse ourselves in the world of finance and Freud, it seems we may have stumbled upon a psychological gold mine.

Doe and Jones (2018) further discuss the impact of consumer psychology on stock performance, highlighting the significance of consumer behavior and decision-making processes in the financial market. This coincides with our own findings, as we ponder the complex relationship between the human psyche and the rise and fall of stock prices. It's like trying to unravel a mystery wrapped in yoga pants – stretchy, but oddly intriguing!

Turning to non-fiction books, "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman provides insights into the cognitive processes that drive economic decisions, prompting us to consider the role of psychological biases in stock trading. However, "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg reminds us that stock trading can also be influenced by the habitual behaviors and routines of investors, leading us to ponder the psychological routines behind checking Lululemon's stock price each day. It's like a downward dog stretch for our minds!

On a more speculative note, the works of fiction also seem to offer intriguing parallels. "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley explores a society controlled by psychological manipulation, prompting us to question the influence of psychological factors on market trends. While "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams presents the absurdity and unpredictability of the universe, mirroring the unpredictable nature of stock markets. It's as if our research has taken us on a humorously unexpected journey through the cosmos of the stock market!

In a recent series of social media posts, a trending hashtag #PsychStocks has emerged, with enthusiasts discussing the psychological influences on stock performance. One tweet humorously remarked, "Investing in Lululemon is a stretch – both for your portfolio and your yoga routine!" These online discussions mirror our own musings as we seek to unravel the psychological threads intertwined with Lululemon's stock success. It's like finding a hidden gem in the yoga pants pocket of the internet!

As we navigate this uncharted territory of psychological stock market analysis, we are reminded of a cherished dad joke: "Why don't stockbrokers ever read novels? Because the only numbers they find funny are in the bank!" Indeed, our research journey has been filled with unexpected twists and turns, but we press on in the pursuit of unraveling the enigma of the mind and the market.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.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 Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price (LULU). 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 National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv) . You used data from 2012 to 2021

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]]
"Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we delve into the curious correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of the athletic apparel company Lululemon (LULU). As researchers who believe in the power of positive thinking and good humor, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to find out if there's a psychological connection to Lululemon's success.

Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we applied rigorous statistical methods to analyze the relationship between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the movements of Lululemon's stock price from 2012 to 2021. Our findings revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 and a robustly significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong association between these two variables. It seems that when it comes to understanding Lululemon's success, psychology may hold the key. Time to stretch our minds and perceptions!

In conclusion, our research has shed light on the surprising and previously unexplored association between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As we unravel the mysteries of the mind and the stock market, we must remember the sage advice of our favorite dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!"

[[INTRODUCTION]]
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of a Lululemon athleisure wardrobe must be in want of a stock portfolio. In recent years, the success of Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) has been as remarkable as the stretchiness of their yoga pants. At the same time, the field of psychology has been flexing its intellectual muscles, with an increasing number of Master's degrees awarded in this discipline. The intriguing question arose: could there be a psychological connection to Lululemon's success? As researchers, we couldn't resist the temptation to dive into this curious correlation and see if there's more to this relationship than meets the eye.
Undoubtedly, the intersection of psychology and stock prices is a topic of great interest. However, for decades, the connection between Lululemon's stock performance and the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology has been a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. With a playful wink to Freud, we embarked on a journey to explore the id, ego, and superego of this relationship, attempting to bring light to the depths of the human mind and the stock market (pun intended).
Our study aims to unravel the appeal of Lululemon's stock performance by looking at the psychological forces at play. As our findings started to illuminate the connection between these two disparate realms, we couldn't help but think, "Why did the stock market analyst go to therapy? To get to the bottom of those deep market blues!" Just like the stock market, our research is not without its share of ups and downs - but we don't intend to stretch the truth.
In the following sections, we will present the methodology and findings of our research, aiming to shed light on the intriguing relationship between the field of psychology and the financial prosperity of Lululemon. As we delve into the psychological underpinnings of Lululemon's success, always remember the wise words of a dad's favorite joke: "I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To investigate the connection between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price, we employed a methodology as flexible as Lululemon's yoga pants and as robust as a well-constructed statistical model. Our data collection process involved a deliberate blend of calculated precision and a touch of whimsy, akin to the perfect balance of a yoga pose.

First, we gathered data on the annual number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology from the National Center for Education Statistics. With the efficiency of a seasoned yoga instructor guiding her class, we pulled the relevant statistics from the years 2012 to 2021, ensuring a comprehensive overview of the educational landscape in the realm of psychology. We believe in the mantra, "Inhale data, exhale insights."

Next, we turned to LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv) to acquire the historical stock price of Lululemon (LULU) for the same period. Just as a yogi cultivates mindfulness through breath, we meticulously curated a dataset capturing the fluctuations of Lululemon's stock price, striving for an understanding as deep as a meditative state.

In our quest for statistical enlightenment, we employed rigorous quantitative techniques to analyze the relationship between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price. Our statistical analysis involved complex econometric methods blended with the intuitive insights of a yoga practitioner finding the perfect stretch. The correlation coefficient and p-value were calculated with as much care as a yogi performing a balancing pose – seeking stability in the midst of fluctuations.

To account for potential confounding factors, we conducted sensitivity analyses and robustness checks, ensuring that our conclusions remained as rock-solid as the foundation of a well-executed yoga posture. Our methodology was designed to navigate the complexities of human behavior and market dynamics with a sense of grace and balance, much like the artful execution of a challenging yoga sequence. In the spirit of seeking harmony, our research approach aimed to strike a balance between thoroughness and inherent unpredictability, like navigating the serene waters of the stock market.

As our methodology aligned the rigor of statistical analysis with the fluidity of psychological inquiry, we couldn't help but recall the timeless words of a classic dad joke: "Why did the statistician only trust the stock market in moderation? Because they knew the dangers of irrational exuberance and statistical significance were as real as finding a four-leaf clover!"

Through this fusion of statistical inquiry and psychological exploration, our methodology led us to uncover compelling insights into the fascinating connection between Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price. The journey continues as we present our findings and conclusions, aiming to bring light to this unexpected intersection of the mind and the market.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.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 Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price (LULU). 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 National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv) .

For the time period 2012 to 2021, you found a correlation 0.9634448, r-squared of 0.9282260, 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]]
"Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we delve into the curious correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of the athletic apparel company Lululemon (LULU). As researchers who believe in the power of positive thinking and good humor, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to find out if there's a psychological connection to Lululemon's success.

Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we applied rigorous statistical methods to analyze the relationship between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the movements of Lululemon's stock price from 2012 to 2021. Our findings revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 and a robustly significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong association between these two variables. It seems that when it comes to understanding Lululemon's success, psychology may hold the key. Time to stretch our minds and perceptions!

In conclusion, our research has shed light on the surprising and previously unexplored association between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As we unravel the mysteries of the mind and the stock market, we must remember the sage advice of our favorite dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!"

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of a Lululemon athleisure wardrobe must be in want of a stock portfolio. In recent years, the success of Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) has been as remarkable as the stretchiness of their yoga pants. At the same time, the field of psychology has been flexing its intellectual muscles, with an increasing number of Master's degrees awarded in this discipline. The intriguing question arose: could there be a psychological connection to Lululemon's success? As researchers, we couldn't resist the temptation to dive into this curious correlation and see if there's more to this relationship than meets the eye.
Undoubtedly, the intersection of psychology and stock prices is a topic of great interest. However, for decades, the connection between Lululemon's stock performance and the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology has been a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. With a playful wink to Freud, we embarked on a journey to explore the id, ego, and superego of this relationship, attempting to bring light to the depths of the human mind and the stock market (pun intended).
Our study aims to unravel the appeal of Lululemon's stock performance by looking at the psychological forces at play. As our findings started to illuminate the connection between these two disparate realms, we couldn't help but think, "Why did the stock market analyst go to therapy? To get to the bottom of those deep market blues!" Just like the stock market, our research is not without its share of ups and downs - but we don't intend to stretch the truth.
In the following sections, we will present the methodology and findings of our research, aiming to shed light on the intriguing relationship between the field of psychology and the financial prosperity of Lululemon. As we delve into the psychological underpinnings of Lululemon's success, always remember the wise words of a dad's favorite joke: "I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

Upon analyzing the data collected from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we found a remarkably high correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of Lululemon (LULU) from 2012 to 2021. This strong correlation is nothing to sweat about, and it had a robust r-squared value of 0.9282260, indicating that over 92% of the variability in Lululemon's stock price can be explained by the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology. It seems the mind indeed has significant sway over the stock market, and perhaps it's time for investors to put on their thinking caps along with their yoga pants.

The p-value of less than 0.01 further reinforced the statistical significance of this relationship, suggesting that the association between the two variables is not simply the result of chance. In other words, the likelihood of this correlation being a fluke is about as low as the chances of finding a pair of unflattering yoga pants at Lululemon – slim to none!

Our findings are visually encapsulated in Figure 1, a scatterplot illustrating the robust correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price. The plot speaks volumes, showing a clear pattern that would make any statistical analyst as relaxed as a yogi in meditation.

In conclusion, these results have brought to light an unexpected and thought-provoking relationship between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As our research opens up new avenues of inquiry, it's worth recalling the wisdom of a classic dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!" Indeed, there's more to the mind than meets the eye, and our findings hint at an intriguing interplay between psychological trends and market movements.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.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 Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price (LULU). 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]]
"Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we delve into the curious correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of the athletic apparel company Lululemon (LULU). As researchers who believe in the power of positive thinking and good humor, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to find out if there's a psychological connection to Lululemon's success.

Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we applied rigorous statistical methods to analyze the relationship between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the movements of Lululemon's stock price from 2012 to 2021. Our findings revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 and a robustly significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong association between these two variables. It seems that when it comes to understanding Lululemon's success, psychology may hold the key. Time to stretch our minds and perceptions!

In conclusion, our research has shed light on the surprising and previously unexplored association between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As we unravel the mysteries of the mind and the stock market, we must remember the sage advice of our favorite dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!"

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
In a study by Smith et al. (2019), it was observed that the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology has been steadily increasing over the past decade. This trend raises an interesting question: could the surge in psychology degrees be influencing not just our minds, but perhaps our wallets as well? As we immerse ourselves in the world of finance and Freud, it seems we may have stumbled upon a psychological gold mine.
Doe and Jones (2018) further discuss the impact of consumer psychology on stock performance, highlighting the significance of consumer behavior and decision-making processes in the financial market. This coincides with our own findings, as we ponder the complex relationship between the human psyche and the rise and fall of stock prices. It's like trying to unravel a mystery wrapped in yoga pants – stretchy, but oddly intriguing!
Turning to non-fiction books, "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman provides insights into the cognitive processes that drive economic decisions, prompting us to consider the role of psychological biases in stock trading. However, "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg reminds us that stock trading can also be influenced by the habitual behaviors and routines of investors, leading us to ponder the psychological routines behind checking Lululemon's stock price each day. It's like a downward dog stretch for our minds!
On a more speculative note, the works of fiction also seem to offer intriguing parallels. "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley explores a society controlled by psychological manipulation, prompting us to question the influence of psychological factors on market trends. While "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams presents the absurdity and unpredictability of the universe, mirroring the unpredictable nature of stock markets. It's as if our research has taken us on a humorously unexpected journey through the cosmos of the stock market!
In a recent series of social media posts, a trending hashtag #PsychStocks has emerged, with enthusiasts discussing the psychological influences on stock performance. One tweet humorously remarked, "Investing in Lululemon is a stretch – both for your portfolio and your yoga routine!" These online discussions mirror our own musings as we seek to unravel the psychological threads intertwined with Lululemon's stock success. It's like finding a hidden gem in the yoga pants pocket of the internet!
As we navigate this uncharted territory of psychological stock market analysis, we are reminded of a cherished dad joke: "Why don't stockbrokers ever read novels? Because the only numbers they find funny are in the bank!" Indeed, our research journey has been filled with unexpected twists and turns, but we press on in the pursuit of unraveling the enigma of the mind and the market.

[[RESULTS]]
Upon analyzing the data collected from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we found a remarkably high correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of Lululemon (LULU) from 2012 to 2021. This strong correlation is nothing to sweat about, and it had a robust r-squared value of 0.9282260, indicating that over 92% of the variability in Lululemon's stock price can be explained by the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology. It seems the mind indeed has significant sway over the stock market, and perhaps it's time for investors to put on their thinking caps along with their yoga pants.
The p-value of less than 0.01 further reinforced the statistical significance of this relationship, suggesting that the association between the two variables is not simply the result of chance. In other words, the likelihood of this correlation being a fluke is about as low as the chances of finding a pair of unflattering yoga pants at Lululemon – slim to none!
Our findings are visually encapsulated in Figure 1, a scatterplot illustrating the robust correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price. The plot speaks volumes, showing a clear pattern that would make any statistical analyst as relaxed as a yogi in meditation.
In conclusion, these results have brought to light an unexpected and thought-provoking relationship between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As our research opens up new avenues of inquiry, it's worth recalling the wisdom of a classic dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!" Indeed, there's more to the mind than meets the eye, and our findings hint at an intriguing interplay between psychological trends and market movements.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

Our findings have provided compelling evidence of a strong and surprising correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of Lululemon (LULU). This connection raises intriguing questions about the influence of psychological factors on financial markets and investor decision-making. It's like trying to find enlightenment in a pair of stretchy pants!

Building on the literature review, our results support the notion that psychology may indeed play a significant role in shaping market trends. The surge in psychology degrees appears to be more than a mere coincidence, and it seems to have a tangible impact beyond the confines of the therapist's office. It's as if our research has unearthed a treasure trove of psychological intrigue hidden within the world of finance, like finding a diamond in the rough – or, dare I say, a yoga mat in a boardroom?

Doe and Jones (2018) emphasized the importance of consumer psychology on stock performance, and our findings echo this sentiment. It appears that consumer behavior and decision-making processes may be more entwined with stock movements than previously thought. Just like an elusive yoga pose, the connection between psychology and stock prices may be intricate and unconventional.

Our results also parallel the insights from "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman, by indicating that psychological biases could indeed influence stock trading. This suggests that the mind's intricate patterns and cognitive biases may be as impactful in the stock market as they are in everyday decision-making. It's like uncovering the hidden warrior pose of market trends – a balancing act that can send investors teetering on the edge.

Furthermore, our research aligns with the speculative parallels drawn from fiction. The psychological influence on market trends, akin to the control in "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley, may not be as far-fetched as it seems. Just as "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams illustrates the unpredictability of the universe, the stock market's own unpredictability may indeed be influenced by psychological forces. Sometimes, the universe works in mysterious ways, not unlike the behavior of stock prices.

Our study has not only provided empirical confirmation of these psychological influences but has also unveiled an unexpected and thought-provoking relationship between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. In the world of finance, as in the world of enlightenment, it seems the mind truly does matter. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of the financial world, we are reminded of a classic dad joke: "Why don't investment bankers go to the beach? Because where one stock rises, another one falls - it's a real shell game!" Indeed, the market may be unpredictable, but with a touch of psychology, it might just become a little more understandable.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.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 Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price (LULU). 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]]
"Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we delve into the curious correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of the athletic apparel company Lululemon (LULU). As researchers who believe in the power of positive thinking and good humor, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to find out if there's a psychological connection to Lululemon's success.

Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we applied rigorous statistical methods to analyze the relationship between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the movements of Lululemon's stock price from 2012 to 2021. Our findings revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 and a robustly significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong association between these two variables. It seems that when it comes to understanding Lululemon's success, psychology may hold the key. Time to stretch our minds and perceptions!

In conclusion, our research has shed light on the surprising and previously unexplored association between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As we unravel the mysteries of the mind and the stock market, we must remember the sage advice of our favorite dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!"

[[INTRDUCTION]]
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of a Lululemon athleisure wardrobe must be in want of a stock portfolio. In recent years, the success of Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) has been as remarkable as the stretchiness of their yoga pants. At the same time, the field of psychology has been flexing its intellectual muscles, with an increasing number of Master's degrees awarded in this discipline. The intriguing question arose: could there be a psychological connection to Lululemon's success? As researchers, we couldn't resist the temptation to dive into this curious correlation and see if there's more to this relationship than meets the eye.
Undoubtedly, the intersection of psychology and stock prices is a topic of great interest. However, for decades, the connection between Lululemon's stock performance and the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology has been a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. With a playful wink to Freud, we embarked on a journey to explore the id, ego, and superego of this relationship, attempting to bring light to the depths of the human mind and the stock market (pun intended).
Our study aims to unravel the appeal of Lululemon's stock performance by looking at the psychological forces at play. As our findings started to illuminate the connection between these two disparate realms, we couldn't help but think, "Why did the stock market analyst go to therapy? To get to the bottom of those deep market blues!" Just like the stock market, our research is not without its share of ups and downs - but we don't intend to stretch the truth.
In the following sections, we will present the methodology and findings of our research, aiming to shed light on the intriguing relationship between the field of psychology and the financial prosperity of Lululemon. As we delve into the psychological underpinnings of Lululemon's success, always remember the wise words of a dad's favorite joke: "I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug."

[[RESULTS]]
Upon analyzing the data collected from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we found a remarkably high correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of Lululemon (LULU) from 2012 to 2021. This strong correlation is nothing to sweat about, and it had a robust r-squared value of 0.9282260, indicating that over 92% of the variability in Lululemon's stock price can be explained by the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology. It seems the mind indeed has significant sway over the stock market, and perhaps it's time for investors to put on their thinking caps along with their yoga pants.
The p-value of less than 0.01 further reinforced the statistical significance of this relationship, suggesting that the association between the two variables is not simply the result of chance. In other words, the likelihood of this correlation being a fluke is about as low as the chances of finding a pair of unflattering yoga pants at Lululemon – slim to none!
Our findings are visually encapsulated in Figure 1, a scatterplot illustrating the robust correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and Lululemon's stock price. The plot speaks volumes, showing a clear pattern that would make any statistical analyst as relaxed as a yogi in meditation.
In conclusion, these results have brought to light an unexpected and thought-provoking relationship between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As our research opens up new avenues of inquiry, it's worth recalling the wisdom of a classic dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!" Indeed, there's more to the mind than meets the eye, and our findings hint at an intriguing interplay between psychological trends and market movements.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our research has uncovered a striking correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of Lululemon (LULU). The robust statistical significance of our findings suggests that psychology may indeed hold the key to understanding Lululemon's success. It seems the mind has formidable influence, even over the fluctuations of the stock market - a true testament to the power of positive thinking, or as some might say, the power of "stock therapy."

Our study has unveiled an intriguing interplay between psychological trends and market movements, shedding light on the curious connection between the human mind and financial prosperity. It appears that Lululemon's stock performance is not just about athleisure fashion and yoga pants, but also about the psychological forces at play. Who knew that "mind over stock" would be such a compelling concept? As we ponder the mysteries of both mind and market, we can't help but recall the timeless dad joke: "Why didn't the psychologist make any money in the stock market? Because he kept overanalyzing the ticker symbols!"

In light of these compelling and lighthearted findings, we assert that no further research is needed in this area. We have stretched the limits of inquiry and found the yoga-panted truth, leaving us with no more loose threads to tug on. It's time for both psychology and stock market enthusiasts to embrace these unexpected results and, perhaps, stretch their minds to new possibilities in financial analysis and understanding the human psyche.

No more research needed? That's our final stance - it's time for all to fold up their lab coats and call it a wrap!


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 Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Consumer Behavior and Mental Economies


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 Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Association for Cognitive Commerce (ACC)


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 Mind Over Stock: The Psy-stock-ology of Lululemon's Success with an abstract of In this study, we delve into the curious correlation between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the stock price of the athletic apparel company Lululemon (LULU). As researchers who believe in the power of positive thinking and good humor, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to find out if there's a psychological connection to Lululemon's success.
Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv), we applied rigorous statistical methods to analyze the relationship between the number of Master's degrees awarded in Psychology and the movements of Lululemon's stock price from 2012 to 2021. Our findings revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9634448 and a robustly significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong association between these two variables. It seems that when it comes to understanding Lululemon's success, psychology may hold the key. Time to stretch our minds and perceptions!
In conclusion, our research has shed light on the surprising and previously unexplored association between the field of psychology and the financial success of Lululemon. As we unravel the mysteries of the mind and the stock market, we must remember the sage advice of our favorite dad joke: "Why did the psychologist break up with the stock market analyst? Because they couldn't agree on the best approach to emotional support or stock picks!

ChatGPT:

Lululemon, Lululemon stock price, psychology degrees, correlation, stock market success, psychology and finance, Lululemon success factors, psychological connection to stock prices, National Center for Education Statistics, LSEG Analytics, psychological influence on stock prices, financial success psychology, stock price movement, relationship between psychology and stock market

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



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Data details

Master's degrees awarded in Psychology
Detailed data title: Master's degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions in Psychology
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
See what else correlates with Master's degrees awarded in Psychology

Lululemon's stock price (LULU)
Detailed data title: Opening price of Lululemon Athletica (LULU) on the first trading day of the year
Source: LSEG Analytics (Refinitiv)
Additional Info: Via Microsoft Excel Stockhistory function

See what else correlates with Lululemon's stock price (LULU)

Correlation r = 0.9634448 (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 = 0.9282260 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 92.8% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Lululemon's stock price (LULU)) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Master's degrees awarded in Psychology) over the 10 years from 2012 through 2021.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 7.5E-6. 0.0000074746889353085130000000
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 0.96 in 0.00075% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 133,785 random variables You don't actually need 133 thousand 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 9 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 9 because we have two variables measured over a period of 10 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.

[ 0.85, 0.99 ] 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.
2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Master's degrees awarded in Psychology (Degrees awarded)27052277872792626772276452753927918291362975031776
Lululemon's stock price (LULU) (Stock price)47.577.7359.0856.0153.7165.9477.31118.89232.9351.67




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.
  4. Y-axis doesn't start at zero: I truncated the Y-axes of the graph above. I also used a line graph, which makes the visual connection stand out more than it deserves. Nothing against line graphs. They are great at telling a story when you have linear data! But visually it is deceptive because the only data is at the points on the graph, not the lines on the graph. In between each point, the data could have been doing anything. Like going for a random walk by itself!
    Mathematically what I showed is true, but it is intentionally misleading. Below is the same chart but with both Y-axes starting at zero.




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([27052,27787,27926,26772,27645,27539,27918,29136,29750,31776,])
array_2 = np.array([47.5,77.73,59.08,56.01,53.71,65.94,77.31,118.89,232.9,351.67,])
array_1_name = "Master's degrees awarded in Psychology"
array_2_name = "Lululemon's stock price (LULU)"

# 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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Correlation ID: 2659 · Black Variable ID: 1337 · Red Variable ID: 1735
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