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Spurious correlation #5,231 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Google searches for 'cute cats' and the second variable is Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions.  The chart goes from 2006 to 2016, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

Because as the search for cute cats increased, so did the demand for cat-themed products. And as more people bought adorable cat toys and accessories on Amazon, the company had to spend more on shipping these purr-chases! After all, it's a whisker-y business!

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image that combines a funny image macro with the scene of a cozy living room full of people watching adorable cat videos on a bright screen. The scene should also include a stack of Amazon boxes nearby, symbolizing an increase in shipping activity due to the group's joy from the cat videos. The image should capture the humor and juxtaposition of the situation. 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: Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions. 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: Sci-fi fantacy High-tech a funny image macro a meme A photo-realistic image
ChatGPT: a funny image macro

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 Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions, in the following situation: As people watched adorable cat videos, they were filled with warm fuzzy feelings, leading them to impulse-buy more items on Amazon, thereby increasing the shipping expenditure. This feline frenzy led to purr-chases galore!. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a cozy living room, a group of people are gathered around a bright screen, smiling as they watch adorable cat videos. Meanwhile, a stack of Amazon boxes sits nearby, with the words "Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions" printed on them. The group's joy from the cute cats seems to have spurred a shopping spree, triggering an increase in Amazon's shipping activity.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You write and improve image generation prompts for DALLE-3. You maintain the same subjects, but enhance the visuals.
User prompt: Please respond with an image generation prompt that would be likely to create an interesting visual using DALLE-3, using the following style: [ a funny image macro ] and depicting this scene: In a cozy living room, a group of people are gathered around a bright screen, smiling as they watch adorable cat videos. Meanwhile, a stack of Amazon boxes sits nearby, with the words "Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions" printed on them. The group's joy from the cute cats seems to have spurred a shopping spree, triggering an increase in Amazon's shipping activity. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image that combines a funny image macro with the scene of a cozy living room full of people watching adorable cat videos on a bright screen. The scene should also include a stack of Amazon boxes nearby, symbolizing an increase in shipping activity due to the group's joy from the cat videos. The image should capture the humor and juxtaposition of the situation.

*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 cute cats (Google searches for 'cute cats') caused Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions to increase. Add a funny one-liner at the end.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure

The Journal of Feline Economics & E-commerce Studies

Jan 2024

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




Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.You write titles and abstracts of goofy academic research papers.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, and add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

Your research team used data from Google Trends and Statista to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.9498829 and p < 0.01 for 2006 to 2016.

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]]
Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a purr-suasive exploration of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and the annual outbound shipping expenditure of the e-commerce giant, Amazon. Utilizing data from Google Trends and Statista, we conducted a comprehensive analysis covering the period from 2006 to 2016. Our findings reveal a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9498829, with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a striking relationship between the two seemingly unrelated variables. While we refrain from drawing pawsitive causation inferences, our results shed light on the clawsome possibility that the appeal of cute cats may have a paw-erful influence on consumer behavior, extending even to their purchasing patterns in the online retail sphere. Our study not only addresses a feline-specific gap in the literature, but also highlights the fur-ther potential of exploring unexpected correlations in the vast realm of consumer behavior and online trends.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.You draft the introduction section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. 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]]
Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a purr-suasive exploration of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and the annual outbound shipping expenditure of the e-commerce giant, Amazon. Utilizing data from Google Trends and Statista, we conducted a comprehensive analysis covering the period from 2006 to 2016. Our findings reveal a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9498829, with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a striking relationship between the two seemingly unrelated variables. While we refrain from drawing pawsitive causation inferences, our results shed light on the clawsome possibility that the appeal of cute cats may have a paw-erful influence on consumer behavior, extending even to their purchasing patterns in the online retail sphere. Our study not only addresses a feline-specific gap in the literature, but also highlights the fur-ther potential of exploring unexpected correlations in the vast realm of consumer behavior and online trends.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce and digital trends, understanding consumer behavior has become increasingly crucial for businesses seeking to claw their way to the top of the competitive market. The advent of online platforms has not only transformed the way people shop but has also provided researchers with a rich source of data to uncover unexpected correlations and relationships. One such seemingly perplexing connection that has garnered our attention is the potential influence of internet searches for "cute cats" on the outbound shipping expenditure of Amazon, the e-commerce leviathan.

While on the surface, the notion of furry feline friends influencing the logistics and shipping operations of a multinational corporation may seem far-fetched, we embarked on this study with an open mind, ready to unearth the captivating yet enigmatic dynamics at play. Before we pounce into the details of our methodology and findings, it is pivotal to sit-paws and ponder on the rationale behind our investigation.

At first glance, one may question the relevance of exploring the correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's shipping expenditure. After all, one could argue that the topics are as unrelated as a fish is to a bicycle in the quaint world of internet trends. However, as curious researchers, it is our duty to approach each inquiry with an open mind, ready to unravel the mysteries that lay beneath the surface. Who knows, we might just uncover an unexpected purr-allel between the irresistible charm of a fluffy feline and the bustling operations of a global online retailer.

This study not only seeks to contribute to the furmidable body of literature on consumer behavior but also aims to unleash the untapped potential of uncovering correlations that may seem as elusive as a cat chasing its own tail. By meow-ndering into the realm of seemingly unrelated trends, we strive to unveil the hidden claws for businesses to scratch the surface of consumer preferences and market dynamics.

In the subsequent sections, we will delve into the purr-ocess of our analysis, from the careful selection of data sources to the statistical purr-ameters used to unravel the relationship between "cute cats" searches and Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure. So, without further ado, let's embark on this furbulent journey into the intersection of internet trends, consumer behavior, and the undeniable charm of our feline friends.


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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Then name a few real TV shows that sound like they might be relevant to the topic that you watched as research.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a purr-suasive exploration of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and the annual outbound shipping expenditure of the e-commerce giant, Amazon. Utilizing data from Google Trends and Statista, we conducted a comprehensive analysis covering the period from 2006 to 2016. Our findings reveal a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9498829, with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a striking relationship between the two seemingly unrelated variables. While we refrain from drawing pawsitive causation inferences, our results shed light on the clawsome possibility that the appeal of cute cats may have a paw-erful influence on consumer behavior, extending even to their purchasing patterns in the online retail sphere. Our study not only addresses a feline-specific gap in the literature, but also highlights the fur-ther potential of exploring unexpected correlations in the vast realm of consumer behavior and online trends.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce and digital trends, understanding consumer behavior has become increasingly crucial for businesses seeking to claw their way to the top of the competitive market. The advent of online platforms has not only transformed the way people shop but has also provided researchers with a rich source of data to uncover unexpected correlations and relationships. One such seemingly perplexing connection that has garnered our attention is the potential influence of internet searches for "cute cats" on the outbound shipping expenditure of Amazon, the e-commerce leviathan.
While on the surface, the notion of furry feline friends influencing the logistics and shipping operations of a multinational corporation may seem far-fetched, we embarked on this study with an open mind, ready to unearth the captivating yet enigmatic dynamics at play. Before we pounce into the details of our methodology and findings, it is pivotal to sit-paws and ponder on the rationale behind our investigation.
At first glance, one may question the relevance of exploring the correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's shipping expenditure. After all, one could argue that the topics are as unrelated as a fish is to a bicycle in the quaint world of internet trends. However, as curious researchers, it is our duty to approach each inquiry with an open mind, ready to unravel the mysteries that lay beneath the surface. Who knows, we might just uncover an unexpected purr-allel between the irresistible charm of a fluffy feline and the bustling operations of a global online retailer.
This study not only seeks to contribute to the furmidable body of literature on consumer behavior but also aims to unleash the untapped potential of uncovering correlations that may seem as elusive as a cat chasing its own tail. By meow-ndering into the realm of seemingly unrelated trends, we strive to unveil the hidden claws for businesses to scratch the surface of consumer preferences and market dynamics.
In the subsequent sections, we will delve into the purr-ocess of our analysis, from the careful selection of data sources to the statistical purr-ameters used to unravel the relationship between "cute cats" searches and Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure. So, without further ado, let's embark on this furbulent journey into the intersection of internet trends, consumer behavior, and the undeniable charm of our feline friends.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
Literature Review

In "Smith et al.'s Study on Consumer Search Behavior," the authors find that consumer search patterns on the internet provide valuable insights into individual preferences and interests. Likewise, Doe and Jones illustrate in "The Dynamics of Online Retail" the significance of understanding consumer behavior in the digital sphere for businesses to thrive in the competitive e-commerce landscape. These serious studies lay the groundwork for our investigation into the peculiar link between Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure.

Transitioning from the serious to the quirky, let us not forget the illuminating insights provided by real non-fiction books such as "How Cats Conquered the Internet" and "The Joy of Cat." These publications offer a glimpse into the pervasive influence of cats in the online realm, setting the stage for our furr-ocious exploration into the connection between the irresistibly adorable realm of 'cute cats' and the logistical workings of a global e-commerce titan.

Purring along into the realm of fiction, works such as "The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" (okay, not directly related, but who doesn't love a good pun?) hint at the enigmatic and multifaceted nature of our feline companions, adding a dash of whimsy to our ponderings. After all, a little literary interlude never hurt anyone, and who knows, perhaps we might find some purr-allel inspiration in unexpected places.

As we meow-ve toward a more visual exploratory approach, TV shows such as "My Cat from Hell" and "Too Cute" (now we're getting closer to our topic!) offer a delightful peek into the captivating world of furry feline friends, providing valuable context for our investigation into the influence of 'cute cats' on consumer behavior and online retail dynamics. Plus, let's be honest, who can resist a good cat video binge?

Stay tuned for the next section where we dive into the purr-plexing methodology behind our intriguing study.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.You draft the methodology section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. 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 Google Trends and Statista . You used data from 2006 to 2016

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]]
Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a purr-suasive exploration of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and the annual outbound shipping expenditure of the e-commerce giant, Amazon. Utilizing data from Google Trends and Statista, we conducted a comprehensive analysis covering the period from 2006 to 2016. Our findings reveal a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9498829, with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a striking relationship between the two seemingly unrelated variables. While we refrain from drawing pawsitive causation inferences, our results shed light on the clawsome possibility that the appeal of cute cats may have a paw-erful influence on consumer behavior, extending even to their purchasing patterns in the online retail sphere. Our study not only addresses a feline-specific gap in the literature, but also highlights the fur-ther potential of exploring unexpected correlations in the vast realm of consumer behavior and online trends.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce and digital trends, understanding consumer behavior has become increasingly crucial for businesses seeking to claw their way to the top of the competitive market. The advent of online platforms has not only transformed the way people shop but has also provided researchers with a rich source of data to uncover unexpected correlations and relationships. One such seemingly perplexing connection that has garnered our attention is the potential influence of internet searches for "cute cats" on the outbound shipping expenditure of Amazon, the e-commerce leviathan.
While on the surface, the notion of furry feline friends influencing the logistics and shipping operations of a multinational corporation may seem far-fetched, we embarked on this study with an open mind, ready to unearth the captivating yet enigmatic dynamics at play. Before we pounce into the details of our methodology and findings, it is pivotal to sit-paws and ponder on the rationale behind our investigation.
At first glance, one may question the relevance of exploring the correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's shipping expenditure. After all, one could argue that the topics are as unrelated as a fish is to a bicycle in the quaint world of internet trends. However, as curious researchers, it is our duty to approach each inquiry with an open mind, ready to unravel the mysteries that lay beneath the surface. Who knows, we might just uncover an unexpected purr-allel between the irresistible charm of a fluffy feline and the bustling operations of a global online retailer.
This study not only seeks to contribute to the furmidable body of literature on consumer behavior but also aims to unleash the untapped potential of uncovering correlations that may seem as elusive as a cat chasing its own tail. By meow-ndering into the realm of seemingly unrelated trends, we strive to unveil the hidden claws for businesses to scratch the surface of consumer preferences and market dynamics.
In the subsequent sections, we will delve into the purr-ocess of our analysis, from the careful selection of data sources to the statistical purr-ameters used to unravel the relationship between "cute cats" searches and Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure. So, without further ado, let's embark on this furbulent journey into the intersection of internet trends, consumer behavior, and the undeniable charm of our feline friends.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

Data Collection

Our research team embarked on a thrilling expedition into the vast digital wilderness of the internet, armed with nothing but laptops, caffeine, and an unwavering curiosity about the inexplicable convergence of 'cute cats' and outbound shipping expenditures. The first step of our purr-suasive journey involved traversing the landscape of Google Trends, where we meticulously harvested data on the search interest for 'cute cats' from users across the globe. Our feline-focused foray into digital realms extended from 2006 to 2016, capturing a decade of fluctuating search fervor for our delightful furry companions.

Additionally, we excavated the treasure trove of information available on Statista, scavenging for Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions. Armed with these formidable datasets, we prepared to unleash the captivating power of statistical analysis to unravel potential correlations meow-raculously hidden within the digital haystack.

Statistical Analysis

The heart of our study lay in the statistical realm, where we summoned the spirits of correlation and regression analyses to illuminate the pathways between 'cute cats' searches and Amazon's shipping expenditures. After carefully flexing our statistical muscles, we arrived at the feet of the Pearson correlation coefficient, ready to determine the strength and direction of the relationship between these seemingly disparate variables.

The robust R software served as our trusty steed, guiding us through the intricate jungles of statistical calculations. With bated breath and keen cat-like reflexes, we maneuvered through the wilderness of data points, unleashing the power of regression modeling to discern the potential influence of 'cute cats' on Amazon's shipping expenditures.

Model Assumptions and Diagnostics

As we meow-ved forward in our analysis, we remained vigilant in ensuring the adherence to the assump-purr-tions underlying the validity of our statistical models. Diagnostic tests became our inseparable companions, guiding us through the treacherous terrain of heteroscedasticity and multicollinearity, ensuring that our findings were as robust as the agility of a playful kitten.

Furthermore, in a nod to the kitty spirit of curiosity, we conducted sensitivity analyses to examine the stability of our results and to anticipate any potential outliers that dared to disrupt the harmony of our statistical symphony.

Limitations and Meow-tations

As with any pawsome research endeavor, our study was not without its boundaries. The limitations inherent in utilizing aggregate search data and financial metrics added a dash of humility to our findings. Additionally, the complexity of consumer behavior, akin to the enigmatic ways of a cat's whims, presented a challenge in inferring causation solely based on our data.

However, armed with feline tenacity and scholarly rigor, we navigated these limitations with grace, recognizing the imperative of humility in the face of statistical complexities and the capricious nature of consumer preferences.

---
I hope you enjoyed this lighthearted take on the methodology section of the academic research paper! Let me know if there's anything else you need or if you'd like me to continue with the results and discussion section in a similar style!


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

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. 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 Google Trends and Statista .

For the time period 2006 to 2016, you found a correlation 0.9498829, r-squared of 0.9022775, 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]]
Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a purr-suasive exploration of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and the annual outbound shipping expenditure of the e-commerce giant, Amazon. Utilizing data from Google Trends and Statista, we conducted a comprehensive analysis covering the period from 2006 to 2016. Our findings reveal a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9498829, with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a striking relationship between the two seemingly unrelated variables. While we refrain from drawing pawsitive causation inferences, our results shed light on the clawsome possibility that the appeal of cute cats may have a paw-erful influence on consumer behavior, extending even to their purchasing patterns in the online retail sphere. Our study not only addresses a feline-specific gap in the literature, but also highlights the fur-ther potential of exploring unexpected correlations in the vast realm of consumer behavior and online trends.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce and digital trends, understanding consumer behavior has become increasingly crucial for businesses seeking to claw their way to the top of the competitive market. The advent of online platforms has not only transformed the way people shop but has also provided researchers with a rich source of data to uncover unexpected correlations and relationships. One such seemingly perplexing connection that has garnered our attention is the potential influence of internet searches for "cute cats" on the outbound shipping expenditure of Amazon, the e-commerce leviathan.
While on the surface, the notion of furry feline friends influencing the logistics and shipping operations of a multinational corporation may seem far-fetched, we embarked on this study with an open mind, ready to unearth the captivating yet enigmatic dynamics at play. Before we pounce into the details of our methodology and findings, it is pivotal to sit-paws and ponder on the rationale behind our investigation.
At first glance, one may question the relevance of exploring the correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's shipping expenditure. After all, one could argue that the topics are as unrelated as a fish is to a bicycle in the quaint world of internet trends. However, as curious researchers, it is our duty to approach each inquiry with an open mind, ready to unravel the mysteries that lay beneath the surface. Who knows, we might just uncover an unexpected purr-allel between the irresistible charm of a fluffy feline and the bustling operations of a global online retailer.
This study not only seeks to contribute to the furmidable body of literature on consumer behavior but also aims to unleash the untapped potential of uncovering correlations that may seem as elusive as a cat chasing its own tail. By meow-ndering into the realm of seemingly unrelated trends, we strive to unveil the hidden claws for businesses to scratch the surface of consumer preferences and market dynamics.
In the subsequent sections, we will delve into the purr-ocess of our analysis, from the careful selection of data sources to the statistical purr-ameters used to unravel the relationship between "cute cats" searches and Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure. So, without further ado, let's embark on this furbulent journey into the intersection of internet trends, consumer behavior, and the undeniable charm of our feline friends.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The results of our analysis revealed a remarkably strong correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure. The correlation coefficient, measured at 0.9498829, indicates a robust positive relationship between the two variables. This finding suggests that as the frequency of searches for "cute cats" on Google increased, Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure also exhibited a considerable upward trend. The coefficient of determination (r-squared) further confirmed the substantial strength of this relationship, standing at 0.9022775, indicating that approximately 90.2% of the variability in Amazon's shipping expenditure can be explained by the frequency of "cute cats" searches.

The statistical analysis also revealed a p-value of less than 0.01, emphasizing the high level of statistical significance in the observed relationship. This essentially means that the likelihood of the observed correlation occurring by chance is exceedingly low, lending robust support to the purr-plexing connection uncovered in our study.

To visually illustrate the observed correlation, we present a scatterplot (Fig. 1) in which each data point represents the paired values of Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure. As shown in the figure, the data points exhibit a clear upward trend, affirming the positive association between the two variables.

The strength and statistical significance of the correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's shipping expenditure were consistent across the entire period from 2006 to 2016, further reinforcing the robustness of the observed relationship. This decadelong analysis underscores the enduring and persistent nature of the impact that the enchanting allure of cute cats may wield on consumer behavior and, by extension, e-commerce operations.

While this study pauses at identifying and quantifying the correlation between "cute cats" Google searches and Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure, it refrains from ascribing causation. Rather, our findings invite further exploration into the underlying mechanisms and potential causal pathways that may underlie this remarkable relationship. The sheer magnitude of the observed correlation pawses a tantalizing question: can the magnetic charm of adorable felines truly exert a tangible influence on consumer spending patterns in the digital marketplace? This question not only tickles our scholarly intrigue but also beckons further investigation into the whimsical yet consequential dynamics of online consumer behavior.

In summary, the findings of our study unveil a compelling and statistically robust correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure, shedding light on the potential influence of feline captivation on the bustling realm of e-commerce logistics. These results not only widen the aperture of our understanding of consumer behavior but also beckon scholars and industry practitioners alike to take a paws and contemplate the unexpected feline factor in online retail dynamics.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.You draft the discussion section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. 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]]
Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a purr-suasive exploration of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and the annual outbound shipping expenditure of the e-commerce giant, Amazon. Utilizing data from Google Trends and Statista, we conducted a comprehensive analysis covering the period from 2006 to 2016. Our findings reveal a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9498829, with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a striking relationship between the two seemingly unrelated variables. While we refrain from drawing pawsitive causation inferences, our results shed light on the clawsome possibility that the appeal of cute cats may have a paw-erful influence on consumer behavior, extending even to their purchasing patterns in the online retail sphere. Our study not only addresses a feline-specific gap in the literature, but also highlights the fur-ther potential of exploring unexpected correlations in the vast realm of consumer behavior and online trends.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
Literature Review
In "Smith et al.'s Study on Consumer Search Behavior," the authors find that consumer search patterns on the internet provide valuable insights into individual preferences and interests. Likewise, Doe and Jones illustrate in "The Dynamics of Online Retail" the significance of understanding consumer behavior in the digital sphere for businesses to thrive in the competitive e-commerce landscape. These serious studies lay the groundwork for our investigation into the peculiar link between Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure.
Transitioning from the serious to the quirky, let us not forget the illuminating insights provided by real non-fiction books such as "How Cats Conquered the Internet" and "The Joy of Cat." These publications offer a glimpse into the pervasive influence of cats in the online realm, setting the stage for our furr-ocious exploration into the connection between the irresistibly adorable realm of 'cute cats' and the logistical workings of a global e-commerce titan.
Purring along into the realm of fiction, works such as "The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" (okay, not directly related, but who doesn't love a good pun?) hint at the enigmatic and multifaceted nature of our feline companions, adding a dash of whimsy to our ponderings. After all, a little literary interlude never hurt anyone, and who knows, perhaps we might find some purr-allel inspiration in unexpected places.
As we meow-ve toward a more visual exploratory approach, TV shows such as "My Cat from Hell" and "Too Cute" (now we're getting closer to our topic!) offer a delightful peek into the captivating world of furry feline friends, providing valuable context for our investigation into the influence of 'cute cats' on consumer behavior and online retail dynamics. Plus, let's be honest, who can resist a good cat video binge?
Stay tuned for the next section where we dive into the purr-plexing methodology behind our intriguing study.

[[RESULTS]]
The results of our analysis revealed a remarkably strong correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure. The correlation coefficient, measured at 0.9498829, indicates a robust positive relationship between the two variables. This finding suggests that as the frequency of searches for "cute cats" on Google increased, Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure also exhibited a considerable upward trend. The coefficient of determination (r-squared) further confirmed the substantial strength of this relationship, standing at 0.9022775, indicating that approximately 90.2% of the variability in Amazon's shipping expenditure can be explained by the frequency of "cute cats" searches.
The statistical analysis also revealed a p-value of less than 0.01, emphasizing the high level of statistical significance in the observed relationship. This essentially means that the likelihood of the observed correlation occurring by chance is exceedingly low, lending robust support to the purr-plexing connection uncovered in our study.
To visually illustrate the observed correlation, we present a scatterplot (Fig. 1) in which each data point represents the paired values of Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure. As shown in the figure, the data points exhibit a clear upward trend, affirming the positive association between the two variables.
The strength and statistical significance of the correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's shipping expenditure were consistent across the entire period from 2006 to 2016, further reinforcing the robustness of the observed relationship. This decadelong analysis underscores the enduring and persistent nature of the impact that the enchanting allure of cute cats may wield on consumer behavior and, by extension, e-commerce operations.
While this study pauses at identifying and quantifying the correlation between "cute cats" Google searches and Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure, it refrains from ascribing causation. Rather, our findings invite further exploration into the underlying mechanisms and potential causal pathways that may underlie this remarkable relationship. The sheer magnitude of the observed correlation pawses a tantalizing question: can the magnetic charm of adorable felines truly exert a tangible influence on consumer spending patterns in the digital marketplace? This question not only tickles our scholarly intrigue but also beckons further investigation into the whimsical yet consequential dynamics of online consumer behavior.
In summary, the findings of our study unveil a compelling and statistically robust correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure, shedding light on the potential influence of feline captivation on the bustling realm of e-commerce logistics. These results not only widen the aperture of our understanding of consumer behavior but also beckon scholars and industry practitioners alike to take a paws and contemplate the unexpected feline factor in online retail dynamics.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

The remarkably strong correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure unearthed in our study underscores a meow-numental connection that may not be immediately apparent at first glance. Our findings provide empirical support for the notion that the endearing appeal of feline friends may extend its tentacles, or shall we say, whiskers, into the realm of consumer behavior and purchasing patterns, casting a paw-erful influence on e-commerce operations.

Our results align with prior research delving into the impact of online searches on consumer behavior, as highlighted by Smith et al. and Doe and Jones. The correlation we unveiled reinforces the idea that individuals' online preferences can permeate their purchasing decisions, paw-sibly even to the point of exercising an influence on a giant of e-commerce such as Amazon. While we tread lightly on drawing direct causation inferences (we don't want to step on any cat's tail, after all), our findings engender a purr-plexing proposition – could the captivating allure of cute cats nudge consumers towards engaging in more online purchases, thereby driving up Amazon's shipping expenditure? This tantalizing question beckons further exploration.

Moreover, our study hearkens back to the captivating influence of cats in the digital realm, echoing the insights presented in literary and audiovisual works. Far from being a mere flight of fancy, these inspirations from seemingly whimsical sources nudge us to consider the myriad ways in which our furry companions might insinuate themselves into our online activities and, by extension, our spending behaviors. As we gently paw at the boundaries of conventional academic inquiry, we find ourselves considering the deeply fur-tile ground offered by researching unconventional yet compelling factors that may affect consumer behavior.

The robustness of our results across the entire period of study from 2006 to 2016 highlights the enduring nature of the observed relationship, akin to the timeless appeal of a heartwarming cat video. This persistent correlation opens the door to further exploration into the mechanisms that may underlie this feline phenomenon and the potential causal pathways at play, inviting scholarly inquiry into the enigmatic ways in which cute cats may tug at the heartstrings and wallet strings of online shoppers.

Our study underscores the fur-ther potential of uncovering unexpected correlations and underlines the need to remain open to the offbeat and whimsical in the realm of consumer behavior and online trends. As we continue to make pawsitive strides in understanding the quirky dynamics of human behavior, let us not forget the potential impact of our feline friends and remain open to the unexpected, even if it comes in the form of a meow-mentous revelation.


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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. 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]]
Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a purr-suasive exploration of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and the annual outbound shipping expenditure of the e-commerce giant, Amazon. Utilizing data from Google Trends and Statista, we conducted a comprehensive analysis covering the period from 2006 to 2016. Our findings reveal a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9498829, with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a striking relationship between the two seemingly unrelated variables. While we refrain from drawing pawsitive causation inferences, our results shed light on the clawsome possibility that the appeal of cute cats may have a paw-erful influence on consumer behavior, extending even to their purchasing patterns in the online retail sphere. Our study not only addresses a feline-specific gap in the literature, but also highlights the fur-ther potential of exploring unexpected correlations in the vast realm of consumer behavior and online trends.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce and digital trends, understanding consumer behavior has become increasingly crucial for businesses seeking to claw their way to the top of the competitive market. The advent of online platforms has not only transformed the way people shop but has also provided researchers with a rich source of data to uncover unexpected correlations and relationships. One such seemingly perplexing connection that has garnered our attention is the potential influence of internet searches for "cute cats" on the outbound shipping expenditure of Amazon, the e-commerce leviathan.
While on the surface, the notion of furry feline friends influencing the logistics and shipping operations of a multinational corporation may seem far-fetched, we embarked on this study with an open mind, ready to unearth the captivating yet enigmatic dynamics at play. Before we pounce into the details of our methodology and findings, it is pivotal to sit-paws and ponder on the rationale behind our investigation.
At first glance, one may question the relevance of exploring the correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's shipping expenditure. After all, one could argue that the topics are as unrelated as a fish is to a bicycle in the quaint world of internet trends. However, as curious researchers, it is our duty to approach each inquiry with an open mind, ready to unravel the mysteries that lay beneath the surface. Who knows, we might just uncover an unexpected purr-allel between the irresistible charm of a fluffy feline and the bustling operations of a global online retailer.
This study not only seeks to contribute to the furmidable body of literature on consumer behavior but also aims to unleash the untapped potential of uncovering correlations that may seem as elusive as a cat chasing its own tail. By meow-ndering into the realm of seemingly unrelated trends, we strive to unveil the hidden claws for businesses to scratch the surface of consumer preferences and market dynamics.
In the subsequent sections, we will delve into the purr-ocess of our analysis, from the careful selection of data sources to the statistical purr-ameters used to unravel the relationship between "cute cats" searches and Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure. So, without further ado, let's embark on this furbulent journey into the intersection of internet trends, consumer behavior, and the undeniable charm of our feline friends.

[[RESULTS]]
The results of our analysis revealed a remarkably strong correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure. The correlation coefficient, measured at 0.9498829, indicates a robust positive relationship between the two variables. This finding suggests that as the frequency of searches for "cute cats" on Google increased, Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure also exhibited a considerable upward trend. The coefficient of determination (r-squared) further confirmed the substantial strength of this relationship, standing at 0.9022775, indicating that approximately 90.2% of the variability in Amazon's shipping expenditure can be explained by the frequency of "cute cats" searches.
The statistical analysis also revealed a p-value of less than 0.01, emphasizing the high level of statistical significance in the observed relationship. This essentially means that the likelihood of the observed correlation occurring by chance is exceedingly low, lending robust support to the purr-plexing connection uncovered in our study.
To visually illustrate the observed correlation, we present a scatterplot (Fig. 1) in which each data point represents the paired values of Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure. As shown in the figure, the data points exhibit a clear upward trend, affirming the positive association between the two variables.
The strength and statistical significance of the correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's shipping expenditure were consistent across the entire period from 2006 to 2016, further reinforcing the robustness of the observed relationship. This decadelong analysis underscores the enduring and persistent nature of the impact that the enchanting allure of cute cats may wield on consumer behavior and, by extension, e-commerce operations.
While this study pauses at identifying and quantifying the correlation between "cute cats" Google searches and Amazon's outbound shipping expenditure, it refrains from ascribing causation. Rather, our findings invite further exploration into the underlying mechanisms and potential causal pathways that may underlie this remarkable relationship. The sheer magnitude of the observed correlation pawses a tantalizing question: can the magnetic charm of adorable felines truly exert a tangible influence on consumer spending patterns in the digital marketplace? This question not only tickles our scholarly intrigue but also beckons further investigation into the whimsical yet consequential dynamics of online consumer behavior.
In summary, the findings of our study unveil a compelling and statistically robust correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure, shedding light on the potential influence of feline captivation on the bustling realm of e-commerce logistics. These results not only widen the aperture of our understanding of consumer behavior but also beckon scholars and industry practitioners alike to take a paws and contemplate the unexpected feline factor in online retail dynamics.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our study has shed light on the surprisingly strong correlation between Google searches for "cute cats" and Amazon's annual outbound shipping expenditure, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9498829 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01. While we cannot claim causation, the feline factor seems to exert a considerable influence on consumer behavior, extending its paw-sibility all the way to online purchasing patterns.

Now, whether we're witnessing a purrfectly orchestrated marketing campaign by our feline overlords or consumers are seeking to cheer up those lonely office cubicles with adorable kitten videos before making their Amazon purchases, this intriguing correlation calls for further exploration. The quirky yet undeniable nexus between online cat cuteness and corporate shipping strategies purrsents an irresistible puzzle, begging for more research.

One might even say that our findings have uncovered a cat-astrophic secret hidden within the depths of the e-commerce jungle. This feline invasion of consumer behavior opens up a whole new paradigm for studying the impact of unexpected online trends on the multifaceted world of commerce.

However, with the understanding we have gained, we confidently assert that no more research is needed in this area. Thank you for coming to our Ted talk.

[Word count: 296]


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 Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Feline Economics & E-commerce Studies


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of nonprofit research organizations and associations. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding nonprofit, academic, or scientific association or organization that would sponsor research that resulted in a paper entited Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

International Consortium for Feline Economics and Anthropomorphism


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 Fur-real Friends: Exploring the Purr-suasive Connection Between 'Cute Cats' Google Searches and Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure with an abstract of This paper presents a purr-suasive exploration of the connection between Google searches for 'cute cats' and the annual outbound shipping expenditure of the e-commerce giant, Amazon. Utilizing data from Google Trends and Statista, we conducted a comprehensive analysis covering the period from 2006 to 2016. Our findings reveal a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9498829, with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a striking relationship between the two seemingly unrelated variables. While we refrain from drawing pawsitive causation inferences, our results shed light on the clawsome possibility that the appeal of cute cats may have a paw-erful influence on consumer behavior, extending even to their purchasing patterns in the online retail sphere. Our study not only addresses a feline-specific gap in the literature, but also highlights the fur-ther potential of exploring unexpected correlations in the vast realm of consumer behavior and online trends.

ChatGPT:

'cute cats' Google searches, Amazon annual outbound shipping expenditure, correlation between Google searches and Amazon shipping expenditure, consumer behavior, online retail, Google Trends data analysis, Statista data analysis, unexpected correlations, cute animal images influence consumer behavior

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



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Data details

Google searches for 'cute cats'
Detailed data title: Relative volume of Google searches for 'cute cats' (Worldwide, without quotes)
Source: Google Trends
Additional Info: Relative search volume (not absolute numbers)

See what else correlates with Google searches for 'cute cats'

Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions
Source: Statista
See what else correlates with Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions

Correlation r = 0.9498829 (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 = 0.9022775 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 90.2% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Google searches for 'cute cats') over the 11 years from 2006 through 2016.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 7.7E-6. 0.0000076893996597842610000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme. More specifically the p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme if we had only tested one pair of variables one time.

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

Who is going to stop me? p-value reporting doesn't require me to report how many calculations I had to go through in order to find a low p-value!
On average, you will find a correaltion as strong as 0.95 in 0.00077% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 130,049 random variables You don't actually need 130 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 10 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 10 because we have two variables measured over a period of 11 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.

[ 0.81, 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.
20062007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Google searches for 'cute cats' (Rel. search volume)40.2538.083340.7540.2542.666746.583361.416768.575.083386.666785.3333
Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions (Dollars)884000000117400000014650000001773000000257900000039890000005134000000663500000087090000001153900000016167000000




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([40.25,38.0833,40.75,40.25,42.6667,46.5833,61.4167,68.5,75.0833,86.6667,85.3333,])
array_2 = np.array([884000000,1174000000,1465000000,1773000000,2579000000,3989000000,5134000000,6635000000,8709000000,11539000000,16167000000,])
array_1_name = "Google searches for 'cute cats'"
array_2_name = "Amazon's Annual Outbound Shipping Expenditure in Millions"

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

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



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

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

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

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