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Spurious correlation #3,207 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Air pollution in Bakersfield, California and the second variable is Violent crime rates.  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

With cleaner air, people could finally take deep breaths and count to ten before resorting to violence. Or perhaps the lack of smog just made it easier for criminals to see they were about to get caught. Maybe the real criminals were just the pollutants all along, and once they cleared out, there was no need for any more mischief in the city.

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Prompt: Generate an surrealist image of a tranquil park in Bakersfield, California. Show a vibrant, otherworldly garden blooming with peculiar, fantastical plants tended to by reformed troublemakers. The sky above the park should be clear and bright, representing the positive impact of reduced pollution. The scene should evoke a sense of wonder and transformation. 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: Air pollution in Bakersfield, California and Violent crime rates. 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: Woodblock painting Surrealism Cute cartoon Symbolism a Polaroid photo
ChatGPT: Surrealism

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 Air pollution in Bakersfield, California and Violent crime rates, in the following situation: As air pollution decreased in Bakersfield, California, so did violent crime rates because the criminals couldn't handle the fresh air and decided to take up gardening instead.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In Bakersfield, California, the air was clearing as pollution decreased. The streets were quiet as fresh air filled the city. Instead of committing crimes, the former troublemakers were seen in the park, planting flowers and tending to the greenery under the clear skies.

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: [ Surrealism ] and depicting this scene: In Bakersfield, California, the air was clearing as pollution decreased. The streets were quiet as fresh air filled the city. Instead of committing crimes, the former troublemakers were seen in the park, planting flowers and tending to the greenery under the clear skies. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Prompt: Generate an surrealist image of a tranquil park in Bakersfield, California. Show a vibrant, otherworldly garden blooming with peculiar, fantastical plants tended to by reformed troublemakers. The sky above the park should be clear and bright, representing the positive impact of reduced pollution. The scene should evoke a sense of wonder and transformation.

*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 Air pollution in Bakersfield, California caused Violent crime rates to decrease.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates

The Journal of Ecological Criminology

Jan 2024

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




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

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Bakersfield, California and Violent crime rates. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Make the title an alliteration.

Your research team used data from Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 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]]
Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates

[[ABSTRACT]]
This groundbreaking study delves into the unlikely connection between air pollution levels in Bakersfield, California, and the occurrence of violent crimes. Our research team meticulously analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services to investigate this pressing query. To our surprise, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 and p < 0.01 for the years 1985 to 2022. This paper offers a breath of fresh air in the realm of criminology and environmental studies, shedding new light on the potential impact of air quality on aggressive behaviors.


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

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Bakersfield, California and Violent crime rates. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates

[[ABSTRACT]]
This groundbreaking study delves into the unlikely connection between air pollution levels in Bakersfield, California, and the occurrence of violent crimes. Our research team meticulously analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services to investigate this pressing query. To our surprise, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 and p < 0.01 for the years 1985 to 2022. This paper offers a breath of fresh air in the realm of criminology and environmental studies, shedding new light on the potential impact of air quality on aggressive behaviors.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

The pursuit of knowledge often takes us down unexpected and unpolluted paths. In the realm of criminology and environmental studies, one might not expect to find a connection between the noxious fumes of air pollution and the fiery tempers of violent crime rates. However, as our research team delved into this unlikely pairing, we found ourselves breathing in the tantalizing scent of correlation and causation.

Bakersfield, California, a city known for its sunny disposition and agricultural prowess, has unfortunately also garnered less favorable attention for its air quality issues. In our study, we sought to unearth whether there existed a relationship between the inhalation of pollutants and the exhalation of criminal behaviors.

With lungs full of curiosity, we embarked on a rigorous investigation utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services. Our findings, to our surprise and delight, revealed a correlation coefficient that was as undeniable as a face mask in a pollen-laden field.

As we embark on this scholarly adventure, we invite readers to join us in exploring the unexpected interplay of air pollution and violent crime rates. Through this paper, we hope to clear the air on this peculiar connection and breathe new life into the study of environmental influences on human behavior.


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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Bakersfield, California and Violent crime rates. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Then devolve ever further, and mention something completely ridiculous, like you conducted literature review by reading CVS receipts.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates

[[ABSTRACT]]
This groundbreaking study delves into the unlikely connection between air pollution levels in Bakersfield, California, and the occurrence of violent crimes. Our research team meticulously analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services to investigate this pressing query. To our surprise, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 and p < 0.01 for the years 1985 to 2022. This paper offers a breath of fresh air in the realm of criminology and environmental studies, shedding new light on the potential impact of air quality on aggressive behaviors.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The pursuit of knowledge often takes us down unexpected and unpolluted paths. In the realm of criminology and environmental studies, one might not expect to find a connection between the noxious fumes of air pollution and the fiery tempers of violent crime rates. However, as our research team delved into this unlikely pairing, we found ourselves breathing in the tantalizing scent of correlation and causation.
Bakersfield, California, a city known for its sunny disposition and agricultural prowess, has unfortunately also garnered less favorable attention for its air quality issues. In our study, we sought to unearth whether there existed a relationship between the inhalation of pollutants and the exhalation of criminal behaviors.
With lungs full of curiosity, we embarked on a rigorous investigation utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services. Our findings, to our surprise and delight, revealed a correlation coefficient that was as undeniable as a face mask in a pollen-laden field.
As we embark on this scholarly adventure, we invite readers to join us in exploring the unexpected interplay of air pollution and violent crime rates. Through this paper, we hope to clear the air on this peculiar connection and breathe new life into the study of environmental influences on human behavior.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

Smith (2015) explores the potential link between air pollution and aggressive behaviors in urban environments. Their study in "Journal of Environmental Psychology" suggests a positive association between exposure to air pollutants and heightened irritability among residents, indicating a possibility of increased violent tendencies. Similarly, Doe (2018) investigates the impact of air quality on psychological well-being in "Environmental Health Perspectives," shedding light on how poor air quality can contribute to stress and anger, potentially influencing crime rates.

Turning to non-fiction works, "The Air Pollution and Crime Nexus: Exploring the Link" (Jones, 2019) provides a comprehensive analysis of the correlation between air pollution levels and various types of criminal activities. This thorough examination presents compelling evidence for the interconnectedness of environmental factors and criminal behavior. In "Pollen Overload: The Surprising Effects of Airborne Particles on Human Aggression" (Thompson, 2020), the author delves into the lesser-known impacts of pollen and other airborne particles on human aggression, expanding the scope of air pollution's potential role in violent acts.

In the realm of fiction, "Smog City Slaughter" (Roberts, 2017) paints a vivid picture of a dystopian society rife with crime, where the polluted air serves as a backdrop for the characters' turbulent lives. Similarly, "Murder in the Misty Metropolis" (Garcia, 2016) weaves a tale of mystery and intrigue set against the backdrop of a polluted cityscape, hinting at the intoxicating effects of toxic air on the human psyche.

In this endeavor, the researchers also perused a variety of unconventional sources, including but not limited to grocery store receipts, ancient hieroglyphics, and even the cryptic scribblings on the back of cereal boxes. While these unconventional sources did not directly address the air pollution-violent crime nexus, they did provide valuable insights into the diverse ways in which information can be obtained, reinforcing the multidisciplinary nature of academic inquiry.

The studies and literary works reviewed in this section offer a glimpse into the diverse perspectives on the potential connection between air pollution in Bakersfield, California, and violent crime rates. Despite the serious nature of the topic, the literature provides a rich tapestry of insights that stretches from scholarly analyses to fictional narratives and even to the unlikeliest of sources. Through this varied array of viewpoints, the researchers navigate the dense fog of uncertainty to bring clarity to this curious intersection of environmental quality and human behavior.


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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Bakersfield, California and Violent crime rates. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from Environmental Protection Agency 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]]
Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates

[[ABSTRACT]]
This groundbreaking study delves into the unlikely connection between air pollution levels in Bakersfield, California, and the occurrence of violent crimes. Our research team meticulously analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services to investigate this pressing query. To our surprise, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 and p < 0.01 for the years 1985 to 2022. This paper offers a breath of fresh air in the realm of criminology and environmental studies, shedding new light on the potential impact of air quality on aggressive behaviors.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The pursuit of knowledge often takes us down unexpected and unpolluted paths. In the realm of criminology and environmental studies, one might not expect to find a connection between the noxious fumes of air pollution and the fiery tempers of violent crime rates. However, as our research team delved into this unlikely pairing, we found ourselves breathing in the tantalizing scent of correlation and causation.
Bakersfield, California, a city known for its sunny disposition and agricultural prowess, has unfortunately also garnered less favorable attention for its air quality issues. In our study, we sought to unearth whether there existed a relationship between the inhalation of pollutants and the exhalation of criminal behaviors.
With lungs full of curiosity, we embarked on a rigorous investigation utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services. Our findings, to our surprise and delight, revealed a correlation coefficient that was as undeniable as a face mask in a pollen-laden field.
As we embark on this scholarly adventure, we invite readers to join us in exploring the unexpected interplay of air pollution and violent crime rates. Through this paper, we hope to clear the air on this peculiar connection and breathe new life into the study of environmental influences on human behavior.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To uncover the murky connection between air pollution and violent crime rates in Bakersfield, California, our research team employed a series of whimsically convoluted research methods. First, we gathered air quality data from the Environmental Protection Agency, measuring pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide, which infiltrated the air like uninvited party guests. Recognizing the potential influence of these airborne intruders on human behavior, we swiftly moved to obtain violent crime data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services.

After collecting these datasets, we undertook a leisurely stroll through the statistical forest, where we engaged in the enchanting ritual of data cleaning and preparation. We wrangled and coaxed the unruly data into a harmonious format, ensuring that it was primed for the upcoming dance of regression analysis and correlation examinations.

Ah, the dance of statistical analysis! With this grand spectacle of number-crunching, we calculated the correlation coefficient between air pollution and violent crime rates, all the while swaying to the rhythm of p-values and confidence intervals. Embracing the tango of multivariate regression models, we also adjusted for various socio-economic factors, much like adding seasoning to an intricate recipe, to tease out the true relationship between air quality and aggressive behaviors.

In addition, our intrepid research team explored the temporal aspect of this peculiar connection, dividing the data into different time periods to discern any evolving patterns in the relationship between air pollution and violent crimes. We observed the ebb and flow of pollutants and criminal activities over the decades, akin to watching the unfolding drama of a historical period piece.

Furthermore, we employed geographic information system (GIS) mapping techniques to visualize the spatial distribution of air pollution and violent crime rates across Bakersfield. This allowed us to paint a vivid portrait of the intertwined landscapes of tainted air and tumultuous altercations, akin to creating a captivating work of art on canvas.

Lastly, we applied robust sensitivity analyses and diagnostic tests to challenge the resilience of our findings, subjecting them to the academic equivalent of stress tests and obstacle courses to ensure their durability and validity in the scholarly arena.

Through this menagerie of methodologies, we endeavored to unveil the enigmatic link between air pollution and violent crime rates, blending rigorous analysis with a touch of whimsy to unravel this unprecedented correlation.


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

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Bakersfield, California and Violent crime rates. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services .

For the time period 1985 to 2022, you found a correlation 0.6713931, r-squared of 0.4507687, 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]]
Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates

[[ABSTRACT]]
This groundbreaking study delves into the unlikely connection between air pollution levels in Bakersfield, California, and the occurrence of violent crimes. Our research team meticulously analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services to investigate this pressing query. To our surprise, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 and p < 0.01 for the years 1985 to 2022. This paper offers a breath of fresh air in the realm of criminology and environmental studies, shedding new light on the potential impact of air quality on aggressive behaviors.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
The pursuit of knowledge often takes us down unexpected and unpolluted paths. In the realm of criminology and environmental studies, one might not expect to find a connection between the noxious fumes of air pollution and the fiery tempers of violent crime rates. However, as our research team delved into this unlikely pairing, we found ourselves breathing in the tantalizing scent of correlation and causation.
Bakersfield, California, a city known for its sunny disposition and agricultural prowess, has unfortunately also garnered less favorable attention for its air quality issues. In our study, we sought to unearth whether there existed a relationship between the inhalation of pollutants and the exhalation of criminal behaviors.
With lungs full of curiosity, we embarked on a rigorous investigation utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services. Our findings, to our surprise and delight, revealed a correlation coefficient that was as undeniable as a face mask in a pollen-laden field.
As we embark on this scholarly adventure, we invite readers to join us in exploring the unexpected interplay of air pollution and violent crime rates. Through this paper, we hope to clear the air on this peculiar connection and breathe new life into the study of environmental influences on human behavior.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

Upon carefully examining the data gathered from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, a compelling relationship between air pollution and violent crime rates in Bakersfield, California emerged. The correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 indicates a moderately strong positive association. The r-squared value of 0.4507687 suggests that approximately 45% of the variability in violent crime rates can be explained by changes in air pollution levels. The p-value being less than 0.01 affirms the statistical significance of the relationship.

The findings are supported by a scatterplot (Fig. 1) illustrating the pronounced correlation between air pollution and violent crime rates. This visualization emphasizes the robustness of the observed association and showcases the striking connection between these seemingly disparate phenomena.

In conclusion, our study provides compelling evidence of the unexpected link between air pollution and violent crime rates in Bakersfield, California. These results underscore the importance of considering environmental factors in the study of criminal behavior and invite further investigation into the mechanisms underlying this intriguing relationship.


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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Bakersfield, California and Violent crime rates. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

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

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

[[TITLE]]
Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates

[[ABSTRACT]]
This groundbreaking study delves into the unlikely connection between air pollution levels in Bakersfield, California, and the occurrence of violent crimes. Our research team meticulously analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services to investigate this pressing query. To our surprise, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 and p < 0.01 for the years 1985 to 2022. This paper offers a breath of fresh air in the realm of criminology and environmental studies, shedding new light on the potential impact of air quality on aggressive behaviors.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
Smith (2015) explores the potential link between air pollution and aggressive behaviors in urban environments. Their study in "Journal of Environmental Psychology" suggests a positive association between exposure to air pollutants and heightened irritability among residents, indicating a possibility of increased violent tendencies. Similarly, Doe (2018) investigates the impact of air quality on psychological well-being in "Environmental Health Perspectives," shedding light on how poor air quality can contribute to stress and anger, potentially influencing crime rates.
Turning to non-fiction works, "The Air Pollution and Crime Nexus: Exploring the Link" (Jones, 2019) provides a comprehensive analysis of the correlation between air pollution levels and various types of criminal activities. This thorough examination presents compelling evidence for the interconnectedness of environmental factors and criminal behavior. In "Pollen Overload: The Surprising Effects of Airborne Particles on Human Aggression" (Thompson, 2020), the author delves into the lesser-known impacts of pollen and other airborne particles on human aggression, expanding the scope of air pollution's potential role in violent acts.
In the realm of fiction, "Smog City Slaughter" (Roberts, 2017) paints a vivid picture of a dystopian society rife with crime, where the polluted air serves as a backdrop for the characters' turbulent lives. Similarly, "Murder in the Misty Metropolis" (Garcia, 2016) weaves a tale of mystery and intrigue set against the backdrop of a polluted cityscape, hinting at the intoxicating effects of toxic air on the human psyche.
In this endeavor, the researchers also perused a variety of unconventional sources, including but not limited to grocery store receipts, ancient hieroglyphics, and even the cryptic scribblings on the back of cereal boxes. While these unconventional sources did not directly address the air pollution-violent crime nexus, they did provide valuable insights into the diverse ways in which information can be obtained, reinforcing the multidisciplinary nature of academic inquiry.
The studies and literary works reviewed in this section offer a glimpse into the diverse perspectives on the potential connection between air pollution in Bakersfield, California, and violent crime rates. Despite the serious nature of the topic, the literature provides a rich tapestry of insights that stretches from scholarly analyses to fictional narratives and even to the unlikeliest of sources. Through this varied array of viewpoints, the researchers navigate the dense fog of uncertainty to bring clarity to this curious intersection of environmental quality and human behavior.

[[RESULTS]]
Upon carefully examining the data gathered from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, a compelling relationship between air pollution and violent crime rates in Bakersfield, California emerged. The correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 indicates a moderately strong positive association. The r-squared value of 0.4507687 suggests that approximately 45% of the variability in violent crime rates can be explained by changes in air pollution levels. The p-value being less than 0.01 affirms the statistical significance of the relationship.
The findings are supported by a scatterplot (Fig. 1) illustrating the pronounced correlation between air pollution and violent crime rates. This visualization emphasizes the robustness of the observed association and showcases the striking connection between these seemingly disparate phenomena.
In conclusion, our study provides compelling evidence of the unexpected link between air pollution and violent crime rates in Bakersfield, California. These results underscore the importance of considering environmental factors in the study of criminal behavior and invite further investigation into the mechanisms underlying this intriguing relationship.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of our study not only confirm but also expound upon the existing research on the curious connection between air pollution and violent crime rates. The positively correlated relationship we observed aligns with previous findings that have hinted at the potential influence of poor air quality on human behavior.

Building upon Smith's (2015) investigation into heightened irritability caused by air pollutants, our study provides quantitative evidence supporting the notion that such irritability may indeed manifest as aggressive behaviors contributing to increased violent crime rates. Furthermore, the positive association between air pollution and psychological distress highlighted by Doe (2018) resonates with our findings, suggesting a potential pathway through which air quality may impact the propensity for violent acts.

Remarkably, even the seemingly outlandish work by Thompson (2020) on airborne particles and human aggression bears relevance in light of our results. The scope of our study encompasses the broader spectrum of air pollution, but the underlying principle – that environmental factors can influence aggressive tendencies – aligns with Thompson's offbeat exploration.

Moreover, the parallels drawn from the world of fiction – from the dystopian visions of "Smog City Slaughter" (Roberts, 2017) to the enigmatic allure of "Murder in the Misty Metropolis" (Garcia, 2016) – take on a new dimension of relevance when viewed in the context of our empirical findings. While these literary works may have been intended as mere flights of fancy, they inadvertently echo the potential impact of polluted environments on human behavior, adding a layer of unexpected coherence to our understanding of the air pollution-crime nexus.

Even the unconventional sources we humorously alluded to in our literature review, such as grocery store receipts and ancient hieroglyphics, find a semblance of legitimacy in the face of our results. While they may not offer direct evidence, their inclusion underscores the eclectic and multidisciplinary nature of our inquiry, reinforcing the diverse array of perspectives that have converged to illuminate the complex relationship between air pollution and violent crime rates in Bakersfield, California.

In essence, our study not only corroborates the existing body of literature on this peculiar association but also enriches it with empirical evidence, affirming the viability of this line of inquiry and invigorating the dialogue surrounding the intersection of environmental quality and human behavior.


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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Bakersfield, California and Violent crime rates. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates

[[ABSTRACT]]
This groundbreaking study delves into the unlikely connection between air pollution levels in Bakersfield, California, and the occurrence of violent crimes. Our research team meticulously analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services to investigate this pressing query. To our surprise, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 and p < 0.01 for the years 1985 to 2022. This paper offers a breath of fresh air in the realm of criminology and environmental studies, shedding new light on the potential impact of air quality on aggressive behaviors.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The pursuit of knowledge often takes us down unexpected and unpolluted paths. In the realm of criminology and environmental studies, one might not expect to find a connection between the noxious fumes of air pollution and the fiery tempers of violent crime rates. However, as our research team delved into this unlikely pairing, we found ourselves breathing in the tantalizing scent of correlation and causation.
Bakersfield, California, a city known for its sunny disposition and agricultural prowess, has unfortunately also garnered less favorable attention for its air quality issues. In our study, we sought to unearth whether there existed a relationship between the inhalation of pollutants and the exhalation of criminal behaviors.
With lungs full of curiosity, we embarked on a rigorous investigation utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services. Our findings, to our surprise and delight, revealed a correlation coefficient that was as undeniable as a face mask in a pollen-laden field.
As we embark on this scholarly adventure, we invite readers to join us in exploring the unexpected interplay of air pollution and violent crime rates. Through this paper, we hope to clear the air on this peculiar connection and breathe new life into the study of environmental influences on human behavior.

[[RESULTS]]
Upon carefully examining the data gathered from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, a compelling relationship between air pollution and violent crime rates in Bakersfield, California emerged. The correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 indicates a moderately strong positive association. The r-squared value of 0.4507687 suggests that approximately 45% of the variability in violent crime rates can be explained by changes in air pollution levels. The p-value being less than 0.01 affirms the statistical significance of the relationship.
The findings are supported by a scatterplot (Fig. 1) illustrating the pronounced correlation between air pollution and violent crime rates. This visualization emphasizes the robustness of the observed association and showcases the striking connection between these seemingly disparate phenomena.
In conclusion, our study provides compelling evidence of the unexpected link between air pollution and violent crime rates in Bakersfield, California. These results underscore the importance of considering environmental factors in the study of criminal behavior and invite further investigation into the mechanisms underlying this intriguing relationship.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In the end, it seems that the air in Bakersfield may be more than just a breath of fresh air - it may also be a factor in the fiery tempers and heated altercations that contribute to the city's crime rates. Our findings not only shed light on the unsuspected connection between air pollution and violent crime but also serve as a reminder that when it comes to understanding human behavior, the air we breathe may be more influential than we realize. It's quite the conundrum, isn't it? Who would have thought that inhaling noxious fumes could lead to such combustible behavior?

As we take a deep breath and wrap up this study, we can't help but crack a wry smile at the unexpected twists and turns that research can take. But while we've uncovered a correlation, the causation behind this intriguing relationship remains as elusive as a puff of smoke on a windy day.

Therefore, we tentatively assert that further inquiry into this peculiar pairing is not only warranted but may also breathe new life into the fields of criminology and environmental studies. For now, however, it's time to let this peculiar connection simmer, like a pot of stew left on the stove too long. Perhaps in the future, researchers will clear the air once and for all. But for now, we've reached the end of this road, and it seems that no more research is needed in this area.


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 Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Ecological Criminology


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 Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Institute for Air Quality and Societal Behavior


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 Bakerfield's Bad Air and Brawls: Examining the Link Between Air Pollution and Violent Crime Rates with an abstract of This groundbreaking study delves into the unlikely connection between air pollution levels in Bakersfield, California, and the occurrence of violent crimes. Our research team meticulously analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services to investigate this pressing query. To our surprise, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.6713931 and p < 0.01 for the years 1985 to 2022. This paper offers a breath of fresh air in the realm of criminology and environmental studies, shedding new light on the potential impact of air quality on aggressive behaviors.

ChatGPT:

Bakersfield, California, air pollution, violent crime rates, correlation coefficient, environmental Protection Agency, FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, criminology, environmental studies, air quality, aggressive behaviors

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



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Data details

Air pollution in Bakersfield, California
Detailed data title: Percentage of days 'unhealthy' or worse air quality in Bakersfield, CA
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
See what else correlates with Air pollution in Bakersfield, California

Violent crime rates
Detailed data title: The violent crime rate per 100,000 residents in United States
Source: FBI Criminal Justice Information Services
See what else correlates with Violent crime rates

Correlation r = 0.6713931 (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 = 0.4507687 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 45.1% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Violent crime rates) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Air pollution in Bakersfield, California) over the 38 years from 1985 through 2022.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 3.9E-6. 0.0000039481188084122360000000
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 0.67 in 0.00039% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 253,285 random variables You don't actually need 253 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 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.

[ 0.45, 0.82 ] 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
Air pollution in Bakersfield, California (Bad air quality days)23.835624.931528.219233.060129.315125.205527.671225.683124.657527.945228.767128.415315.616421.369933.972629.781428.219236.164433.972629.781421.643823.287719.178124.043721.369910.958910.958913.66128.7671211.78087.945213.825146.575347.397262.191788.743178.493153.56164
Violent crime rates (Violent crime)558.1620.1612.5640.6666.9729.6758.2757.7747.1713.6684.5636.6611567.6523506.5504.5494.4475.8463.2469479.3471.8458.6431.9404.5387.1387.8369.1361.6373.7397.5394.9383.4380.8398.5387380.7




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([23.8356,24.9315,28.2192,33.0601,29.3151,25.2055,27.6712,25.6831,24.6575,27.9452,28.7671,28.4153,15.6164,21.3699,33.9726,29.7814,28.2192,36.1644,33.9726,29.7814,21.6438,23.2877,19.1781,24.0437,21.3699,10.9589,10.9589,13.6612,8.76712,11.7808,7.94521,3.82514,6.57534,7.39726,2.19178,8.74317,8.49315,3.56164,])
array_2 = np.array([558.1,620.1,612.5,640.6,666.9,729.6,758.2,757.7,747.1,713.6,684.5,636.6,611,567.6,523,506.5,504.5,494.4,475.8,463.2,469,479.3,471.8,458.6,431.9,404.5,387.1,387.8,369.1,361.6,373.7,397.5,394.9,383.4,380.8,398.5,387,380.7,])
array_1_name = "Air pollution in Bakersfield, California"
array_2_name = "Violent crime rates"

# 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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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."

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Correlation ID: 3207 · Black Variable ID: 20314 · Red Variable ID: 20220
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