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Spurious correlation #5,682 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Popularity of the first name Vivian and the second variable is Votes for Republican Senators in South Carolina.  The chart goes from 1978 to 2020, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

As the number of VIVIANs rose, so did the VIVIANity of the state. This led to a surge in support for candidates who vowed to uphold traditional values and exuded a certain VIVIANesque charm, hence boosting the Republican votes. It was a VIVIANtastic political phenomenon!

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Create a visual of a bustling street in South Carolina, with vibrant cyber folk-style posters and signs featuring the name "Vivian" prominently displayed. Amidst the lively crowd, depict charismatic Republican Senators exuding the "Vivianesque" charm, surrounded by enthusiastic supporters. The scene should capture the vibrant energy and intertwined excitement as the "Vivian" name and the surge in political support become a VIVIANtastic phenomenon sweeping across the state. Accentuate the scene's cyber folk aesthetic with futuristic elements such as holographic displays and neon lights, enhancing the visual appeal. The depiction should include only scenes, people, and objects, it should not include text or speech bubbles.
This image generation prompt was also generated by AI, using the following sequence:

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You select one of a few potential scene descriptors that seems to go along with the variables described. You respond only with the scene descriptions provided and say nothing else.
User prompt: Here are two variables: Popularity of the first name Vivian and Votes for Republican Senators in South Carolina. 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: Cute 2D animation Woodblock painting a meme Cyber folk Voxel art
ChatGPT: Cyber folk

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated. You combine both variables into one scene.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that prominently depicts both Popularity of the first name Vivian and Votes for Republican Senators in South Carolina, in the following situation: As the number of VIVIANs rose, so did the VIVIANity of the state. This led to a surge in support for candidates who vowed to uphold traditional values and exuded a certain VIVIANesque charm, hence boosting the Republican votes. It was a VIVIANtastic political phenomenon!. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In South Carolina, the streets were bustling with posters and signs featuring the name Vivian, while the air hummed with the excitement of the growing popularity of the name. Alongside, there was a surge in support for Republican Senators, with people gathering around charismatic candidates who exuded a certain Vivianesque charm and vowed to uphold traditional values. It felt like a VIVIANtastic political phenomenon as the two phenomena intertwined and swept across the state.

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: [ Cyber folk ] and depicting this scene: In South Carolina, the streets were bustling with posters and signs featuring the name Vivian, while the air hummed with the excitement of the growing popularity of the name. Alongside, there was a surge in support for Republican Senators, with people gathering around charismatic candidates who exuded a certain Vivianesque charm and vowed to uphold traditional values. It felt like a VIVIANtastic political phenomenon as the two phenomena intertwined and swept across the state. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Create a visual of a bustling street in South Carolina, with vibrant cyber folk-style posters and signs featuring the name "Vivian" prominently displayed. Amidst the lively crowd, depict charismatic Republican Senators exuding the "Vivianesque" charm, surrounded by enthusiastic supporters. The scene should capture the vibrant energy and intertwined excitement as the "Vivian" name and the surge in political support become a VIVIANtastic phenomenon sweeping across the state. Accentuate the scene's cyber folk aesthetic with futuristic elements such as holographic displays and neon lights, enhancing the visual appeal.

*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 Popularity of the first name Vivian caused Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina to increase.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina

The Journal of Political Pseudoscience

Jan 2024

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




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

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Include a pun in the title.

Your research team used data from US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 and p < 0.01 for 1978 to 2020.

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]]
Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the curious correlation between the popularity of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in the state of South Carolina. We obtained data from the US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, rolled up our sleeves, and dived into the statistical pool with all the grace of a belly flop. Our analysis covers the period from 1978 to 2020, providing a comprehensive look at the relationship between a person’s moniker and their political inclinations.

After wading through mountains of data and dodging the siren call of distraction, we emerged with a correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 and a p-value of less than 0.01, much to our bewilderment. As we sifted through the numbers, we couldn't help but be struck by the overwhelming presence of Vivianness in the Republican voting patterns. It almost felt like the name Vivian was whispering "vote red" into our ears like a mischievous imp.

Ultimately, this research sheds light on an unexpected connection that leaves us pondering the strange and mysterious ways in which the human mind can be swayed, perhaps by something as seemingly insignificant as a name. Our findings may provoke more questions than answers, but if nothing else, we've uncovered a peculiar correlation that reminds us to always expect the unexpected.


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

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the curious correlation between the popularity of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in the state of South Carolina. We obtained data from the US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, rolled up our sleeves, and dived into the statistical pool with all the grace of a belly flop. Our analysis covers the period from 1978 to 2020, providing a comprehensive look at the relationship between a person’s moniker and their political inclinations.

After wading through mountains of data and dodging the siren call of distraction, we emerged with a correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 and a p-value of less than 0.01, much to our bewilderment. As we sifted through the numbers, we couldn't help but be struck by the overwhelming presence of Vivianness in the Republican voting patterns. It almost felt like the name Vivian was whispering "vote red" into our ears like a mischievous imp.

Ultimately, this research sheds light on an unexpected connection that leaves us pondering the strange and mysterious ways in which the human mind can be swayed, perhaps by something as seemingly insignificant as a name. Our findings may provoke more questions than answers, but if nothing else, we've uncovered a peculiar correlation that reminds us to always expect the unexpected.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
**[[INTRODUCTION]]**

The name Vivian – a moniker that evokes images of grace, elegance, and a distinct lack of participation in epic sword fights – has long been a staple in households across South Carolina. As with any good mystery, we couldn't help but wonder if there might be more to this seemingly innocuous name than meets the eye. Could there be a hidden influence, a secret pull, or even a voodoo-like spell woven into the fabric of this particular nomenclature?

In the hallowed halls of academia, where coffee flows like a river and statistical software reigns supreme, we embarked on a quest to unravel the enigma surrounding the popularity of the name Vivian and its curious relationship to Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Armed with spreadsheets, bar graphs, and a healthy dose of skepticism, we aimed to bring clarity to this puzzling connection – or at the very least, have a good laugh at the absurdity of our own investigation.

It is said that the true mark of a serious researcher is the ability to maintain a straight face in the presence of eccentric correlations and eyebrow-raising variables. So, with the solemnity befitting a formal scientific inquiry, we set forth to analyze decades of data with the precision of a seasoned detective, all the while whispering jokes and puns under our breath like mischievous lab coat-clad jesters.

In the following pages, we will guide you through the maze of our findings, offering insight, amusement, and perhaps a smattering of eyebrow-raising surprise. Our journey will take us from the depths of statistical analysis to the whimsical territories of name popularity and political leanings, where the unexpected always lays in wait like a prankster with a penchant for throwing curveballs.

So, dear reader, fasten your seatbelts, adjust your data goggles, and prepare to embark on a whimsical, statistically rigorous, and slightly tongue-in-cheek investigation into the captivating world of Vivian, votin', and voodoo statistics.


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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. 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 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]]
Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the curious correlation between the popularity of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in the state of South Carolina. We obtained data from the US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, rolled up our sleeves, and dived into the statistical pool with all the grace of a belly flop. Our analysis covers the period from 1978 to 2020, providing a comprehensive look at the relationship between a person’s moniker and their political inclinations.

After wading through mountains of data and dodging the siren call of distraction, we emerged with a correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 and a p-value of less than 0.01, much to our bewilderment. As we sifted through the numbers, we couldn't help but be struck by the overwhelming presence of Vivianness in the Republican voting patterns. It almost felt like the name Vivian was whispering "vote red" into our ears like a mischievous imp.

Ultimately, this research sheds light on an unexpected connection that leaves us pondering the strange and mysterious ways in which the human mind can be swayed, perhaps by something as seemingly insignificant as a name. Our findings may provoke more questions than answers, but if nothing else, we've uncovered a peculiar correlation that reminds us to always expect the unexpected.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The name Vivian – a moniker that evokes images of grace, elegance, and a distinct lack of participation in epic sword fights – has long been a staple in households across South Carolina. As with any good mystery, we couldn't help but wonder if there might be more to this seemingly innocuous name than meets the eye. Could there be a hidden influence, a secret pull, or even a voodoo-like spell woven into the fabric of this particular nomenclature?
In the hallowed halls of academia, where coffee flows like a river and statistical software reigns supreme, we embarked on a quest to unravel the enigma surrounding the popularity of the name Vivian and its curious relationship to Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Armed with spreadsheets, bar graphs, and a healthy dose of skepticism, we aimed to bring clarity to this puzzling connection – or at the very least, have a good laugh at the absurdity of our own investigation.
It is said that the true mark of a serious researcher is the ability to maintain a straight face in the presence of eccentric correlations and eyebrow-raising variables. So, with the solemnity befitting a formal scientific inquiry, we set forth to analyze decades of data with the precision of a seasoned detective, all the while whispering jokes and puns under our breath like mischievous lab coat-clad jesters.
In the following pages, we will guide you through the maze of our findings, offering insight, amusement, and perhaps a smattering of eyebrow-raising surprise. Our journey will take us from the depths of statistical analysis to the whimsical territories of name popularity and political leanings, where the unexpected always lays in wait like a prankster with a penchant for throwing curveballs.
So, dear reader, fasten your seatbelts, adjust your data goggles, and prepare to embark on a whimsical, statistically rigorous, and slightly tongue-in-cheek investigation into the captivating world of Vivian, votin', and voodoo statistics.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

After brushing aside the cobwebs of statistical tomfoolery, we delved into the literature surrounding name-based influences on political tendencies with the fervor of a detective pursuing the next big clue. Smith and Doe (2015) offer a comprehensive analysis of the impact of first names on political affiliations in their scholarly work "The Lexicon of Liberty: A Comprehensive Examination of Political Nameology." Their study presents a trove of compelling evidence suggesting that individuals with certain names may display a propensity for specific political leanings, leading us to ponder the potential sway of a name like Vivian on the voting inclinations of South Carolinians.

Turning to a more quantitative perspective, Jones et al. (2010) conducted a study titled "Names and Nominations: The Unexpected Links Between Monikers and Political Movements." Their work utilizes advanced statistical models to demonstrate the intricate interplay between names and political outcomes, prompting us to consider the potential impact of the name Vivian on the political landscape of South Carolina. As we pored over their findings, it became evident that the influence of names on political behavior may extend far beyond mere happenstance.

In the realm of popular non-fiction, "Freakonomics" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner provided a thought-provoking exploration of unconventional socio-economic phenomena, leaving us to ponder the quirky intricacies of human decision-making, including the possibility of name-related influences on political preferences. From this unconventional source, we gleaned insights that added to the tapestry of our investigation, reminding us that truth often lurks in the most unexpected places.

On the fictional front, novels such as "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss and "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman offered imaginative narratives weaving mystical elements with the human experience, leaving us to contemplate the intangible forces that may nudge individuals towards specific political allegiances. While these literary works tread the path of the fantastical, they served as a reminder of the enigmatic nature of human behaviors, including the potential impact of names on political proclivities.

In the realm of televised entertainment, series such as "The X-Files" and "Stranger Things" captivated audiences with their exploration of unexplained phenomena and mysterious occurrences. As we indulged in these fictional forays, we couldn't help but draw parallels to the perplexing correlation between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina, evoking a playful comparison between the enigmatic nature of our own investigation and the captivating allure of the unknown.

With these diverse sources as our guide, we venture forth to unravel the curious connection between Vivian, votin', and Republican senators in South Carolina, all the while embracing the whimsy and wonder that accompany our scholarly pursuit.


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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse . You used data from 1978 to 2020

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]]
Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the curious correlation between the popularity of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in the state of South Carolina. We obtained data from the US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, rolled up our sleeves, and dived into the statistical pool with all the grace of a belly flop. Our analysis covers the period from 1978 to 2020, providing a comprehensive look at the relationship between a person’s moniker and their political inclinations.

After wading through mountains of data and dodging the siren call of distraction, we emerged with a correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 and a p-value of less than 0.01, much to our bewilderment. As we sifted through the numbers, we couldn't help but be struck by the overwhelming presence of Vivianness in the Republican voting patterns. It almost felt like the name Vivian was whispering "vote red" into our ears like a mischievous imp.

Ultimately, this research sheds light on an unexpected connection that leaves us pondering the strange and mysterious ways in which the human mind can be swayed, perhaps by something as seemingly insignificant as a name. Our findings may provoke more questions than answers, but if nothing else, we've uncovered a peculiar correlation that reminds us to always expect the unexpected.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The name Vivian – a moniker that evokes images of grace, elegance, and a distinct lack of participation in epic sword fights – has long been a staple in households across South Carolina. As with any good mystery, we couldn't help but wonder if there might be more to this seemingly innocuous name than meets the eye. Could there be a hidden influence, a secret pull, or even a voodoo-like spell woven into the fabric of this particular nomenclature?
In the hallowed halls of academia, where coffee flows like a river and statistical software reigns supreme, we embarked on a quest to unravel the enigma surrounding the popularity of the name Vivian and its curious relationship to Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Armed with spreadsheets, bar graphs, and a healthy dose of skepticism, we aimed to bring clarity to this puzzling connection – or at the very least, have a good laugh at the absurdity of our own investigation.
It is said that the true mark of a serious researcher is the ability to maintain a straight face in the presence of eccentric correlations and eyebrow-raising variables. So, with the solemnity befitting a formal scientific inquiry, we set forth to analyze decades of data with the precision of a seasoned detective, all the while whispering jokes and puns under our breath like mischievous lab coat-clad jesters.
In the following pages, we will guide you through the maze of our findings, offering insight, amusement, and perhaps a smattering of eyebrow-raising surprise. Our journey will take us from the depths of statistical analysis to the whimsical territories of name popularity and political leanings, where the unexpected always lays in wait like a prankster with a penchant for throwing curveballs.
So, dear reader, fasten your seatbelts, adjust your data goggles, and prepare to embark on a whimsical, statistically rigorous, and slightly tongue-in-cheek investigation into the captivating world of Vivian, votin', and voodoo statistics.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

In order to untangle the web of Vivian, votin', and voodoo statistics, our research team embarked on a journey that would make the most intrepid explorer envious. Our first step involved mining the US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse for data spanning from 1978 to 2020. Armed with a holy grail of information and an insatiable curiosity, we then set out to design a methodological framework that would put Sherlock Holmes to shame – or at least give him a good chuckle.

Our initial challenge was to quantify the popularity of the name Vivian over the years, navigating the treacherous waters of name trends with the cautious optimism of sailors on a voyage through the Bermuda Triangle. After procuring this data, we methodically charted the rise and fall of Vivians, analyzing trends with the precision of a pastry chef perfecting the art of croissant-making – delving into the nuances of fluctuating name popularity with the fervor of a detective in pursuit of a grand mystery.

Simultaneously, we delved into the electoral landscape of South Carolina, closely examining Republican votes for Senators with the fervor of a bird watcher tracking elusive species. Our statistical toolkit resembled a Swiss army knife of analysis, featuring an assortment of tools from simple correlation analyses to the more complex machinery of multivariate regressions. We navigated this statistical jungle with the agility of a cat burglar, employing these methods to uncover the hidden link between Vivians and Republican ballots.

To ensure the robustness and reliability of our findings, we also conducted a sensitivity analysis, probing the results for potential fragility with the diligence of a quality control inspector examining the structural integrity of a Jenga tower. This allowed us to assess the impact of varying parameters, ensuring that our correlation didn't crumble under the slightest statistical pressure.

In the end, our methodology was a blend of meticulous data collection, nimble statistical acrobatics, and the occasional leap of faith that would make Indiana Jones proud. Our journey was filled with unexpected challenges, wily statistical anomalies, and a healthy dose of humor that kept our spirits buoyant amidst the sea of data.

With our methodology firmly in place, we were ready to unravel the captivating enigma of Vivian's mysterious influence over South Carolina's political landscape, armed with nothing but wits, statistics, and a sprinkle of whimsy.


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

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse .

For the time period 1978 to 2020, you found a correlation 0.9369675, r-squared of 0.8779081, 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]]
Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the curious correlation between the popularity of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in the state of South Carolina. We obtained data from the US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, rolled up our sleeves, and dived into the statistical pool with all the grace of a belly flop. Our analysis covers the period from 1978 to 2020, providing a comprehensive look at the relationship between a person’s moniker and their political inclinations.

After wading through mountains of data and dodging the siren call of distraction, we emerged with a correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 and a p-value of less than 0.01, much to our bewilderment. As we sifted through the numbers, we couldn't help but be struck by the overwhelming presence of Vivianness in the Republican voting patterns. It almost felt like the name Vivian was whispering "vote red" into our ears like a mischievous imp.

Ultimately, this research sheds light on an unexpected connection that leaves us pondering the strange and mysterious ways in which the human mind can be swayed, perhaps by something as seemingly insignificant as a name. Our findings may provoke more questions than answers, but if nothing else, we've uncovered a peculiar correlation that reminds us to always expect the unexpected.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
The name Vivian – a moniker that evokes images of grace, elegance, and a distinct lack of participation in epic sword fights – has long been a staple in households across South Carolina. As with any good mystery, we couldn't help but wonder if there might be more to this seemingly innocuous name than meets the eye. Could there be a hidden influence, a secret pull, or even a voodoo-like spell woven into the fabric of this particular nomenclature?
In the hallowed halls of academia, where coffee flows like a river and statistical software reigns supreme, we embarked on a quest to unravel the enigma surrounding the popularity of the name Vivian and its curious relationship to Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Armed with spreadsheets, bar graphs, and a healthy dose of skepticism, we aimed to bring clarity to this puzzling connection – or at the very least, have a good laugh at the absurdity of our own investigation.
It is said that the true mark of a serious researcher is the ability to maintain a straight face in the presence of eccentric correlations and eyebrow-raising variables. So, with the solemnity befitting a formal scientific inquiry, we set forth to analyze decades of data with the precision of a seasoned detective, all the while whispering jokes and puns under our breath like mischievous lab coat-clad jesters.
In the following pages, we will guide you through the maze of our findings, offering insight, amusement, and perhaps a smattering of eyebrow-raising surprise. Our journey will take us from the depths of statistical analysis to the whimsical territories of name popularity and political leanings, where the unexpected always lays in wait like a prankster with a penchant for throwing curveballs.
So, dear reader, fasten your seatbelts, adjust your data goggles, and prepare to embark on a whimsical, statistically rigorous, and slightly tongue-in-cheek investigation into the captivating world of Vivian, votin', and voodoo statistics.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The correlation analysis revealed a striking relationship between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. The correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 indicated a strong positive linear relationship, akin to finding a pair of matching socks in a chaotic laundry pile—oddly satisfying, yet surprising nonetheless.

A closer examination of the data illuminated an r-squared value of 0.8779081, signifying that approximately 87.79% of the variation in Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina could be explained by the popularity of the name Vivian. It's as if the name Vivian waltzed into the political arena with the swagger of a well-dressed debutante and left a lasting impression on the voting patterns, much like a suave charmer at a lively soirée.

The p-value of less than 0.01 further underscored the statistical significance of our findings, reminiscent of stumbling upon a rare artifact in the annals of statistical analysis—an unexpected gem that demands attention with a wink and a nod.

Analyzing these results left us with a sense of disbelief akin to finding a four-leaf clover in a field of data. However, the evidence was irrefutable—there exists a notable connection between the frequency of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. It's as if the name Vivian cast a spell over the electoral landscape, beckoning voters with an enigmatic allure that defies traditional political analysis.

This captivating relationship is depicted in Figure 1, a scatterplot that showcases the robust association between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. The plot serves as a visual testament to the compelling nature of our statistical findings, demonstrating the kind of connection that gives researchers an unexpected twinkle in their eyes and a skip in their data interpretation step.

Our results, much like a magician's surprising reveal, support the notion that there may indeed be a sublime influence of a name on political affiliations. Further exploration of this curious phenomenon may lead to a deeper understanding of the interplay between nomenclature and voting behavior, and perhaps, uncover more unexpected correlations hiding in the annals of political science and statistical analysis.


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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

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

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

[[TITLE]]
Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the curious correlation between the popularity of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in the state of South Carolina. We obtained data from the US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, rolled up our sleeves, and dived into the statistical pool with all the grace of a belly flop. Our analysis covers the period from 1978 to 2020, providing a comprehensive look at the relationship between a person’s moniker and their political inclinations.

After wading through mountains of data and dodging the siren call of distraction, we emerged with a correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 and a p-value of less than 0.01, much to our bewilderment. As we sifted through the numbers, we couldn't help but be struck by the overwhelming presence of Vivianness in the Republican voting patterns. It almost felt like the name Vivian was whispering "vote red" into our ears like a mischievous imp.

Ultimately, this research sheds light on an unexpected connection that leaves us pondering the strange and mysterious ways in which the human mind can be swayed, perhaps by something as seemingly insignificant as a name. Our findings may provoke more questions than answers, but if nothing else, we've uncovered a peculiar correlation that reminds us to always expect the unexpected.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
After brushing aside the cobwebs of statistical tomfoolery, we delved into the literature surrounding name-based influences on political tendencies with the fervor of a detective pursuing the next big clue. Smith and Doe (2015) offer a comprehensive analysis of the impact of first names on political affiliations in their scholarly work "The Lexicon of Liberty: A Comprehensive Examination of Political Nameology." Their study presents a trove of compelling evidence suggesting that individuals with certain names may display a propensity for specific political leanings, leading us to ponder the potential sway of a name like Vivian on the voting inclinations of South Carolinians.
Turning to a more quantitative perspective, Jones et al. (2010) conducted a study titled "Names and Nominations: The Unexpected Links Between Monikers and Political Movements." Their work utilizes advanced statistical models to demonstrate the intricate interplay between names and political outcomes, prompting us to consider the potential impact of the name Vivian on the political landscape of South Carolina. As we pored over their findings, it became evident that the influence of names on political behavior may extend far beyond mere happenstance.
In the realm of popular non-fiction, "Freakonomics" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner provided a thought-provoking exploration of unconventional socio-economic phenomena, leaving us to ponder the quirky intricacies of human decision-making, including the possibility of name-related influences on political preferences. From this unconventional source, we gleaned insights that added to the tapestry of our investigation, reminding us that truth often lurks in the most unexpected places.
On the fictional front, novels such as "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss and "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman offered imaginative narratives weaving mystical elements with the human experience, leaving us to contemplate the intangible forces that may nudge individuals towards specific political allegiances. While these literary works tread the path of the fantastical, they served as a reminder of the enigmatic nature of human behaviors, including the potential impact of names on political proclivities.
In the realm of televised entertainment, series such as "The X-Files" and "Stranger Things" captivated audiences with their exploration of unexplained phenomena and mysterious occurrences. As we indulged in these fictional forays, we couldn't help but draw parallels to the perplexing correlation between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina, evoking a playful comparison between the enigmatic nature of our own investigation and the captivating allure of the unknown.
With these diverse sources as our guide, we venture forth to unravel the curious connection between Vivian, votin', and Republican senators in South Carolina, all the while embracing the whimsy and wonder that accompany our scholarly pursuit.

[[RESULTS]]
The correlation analysis revealed a striking relationship between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. The correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 indicated a strong positive linear relationship, akin to finding a pair of matching socks in a chaotic laundry pile—oddly satisfying, yet surprising nonetheless.
A closer examination of the data illuminated an r-squared value of 0.8779081, signifying that approximately 87.79% of the variation in Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina could be explained by the popularity of the name Vivian. It's as if the name Vivian waltzed into the political arena with the swagger of a well-dressed debutante and left a lasting impression on the voting patterns, much like a suave charmer at a lively soirée.
The p-value of less than 0.01 further underscored the statistical significance of our findings, reminiscent of stumbling upon a rare artifact in the annals of statistical analysis—an unexpected gem that demands attention with a wink and a nod.
Analyzing these results left us with a sense of disbelief akin to finding a four-leaf clover in a field of data. However, the evidence was irrefutable—there exists a notable connection between the frequency of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. It's as if the name Vivian cast a spell over the electoral landscape, beckoning voters with an enigmatic allure that defies traditional political analysis.
This captivating relationship is depicted in Figure 1, a scatterplot that showcases the robust association between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. The plot serves as a visual testament to the compelling nature of our statistical findings, demonstrating the kind of connection that gives researchers an unexpected twinkle in their eyes and a skip in their data interpretation step.
Our results, much like a magician's surprising reveal, support the notion that there may indeed be a sublime influence of a name on political affiliations. Further exploration of this curious phenomenon may lead to a deeper understanding of the interplay between nomenclature and voting behavior, and perhaps, uncover more unexpected correlations hiding in the annals of political science and statistical analysis.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of our analysis reveal a fascinating and, dare I say, enchanting connection between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Despite the initial skepticism - akin to a skeptic doubting the existence of love at first sight - our findings align with prior research on the influence of names on political predispositions.

As mentioned in our literature review, Smith and Doe's (2015) meticulous investigation of the impact of first names on political affiliations hinted at the potential sway of names like Vivian on voting inclinations. Our study, with all its statistical bells and whistles, serves as a resounding confirmation of this speculation, akin to a scientist gleefully shouting "Eureka!" in discovery.

Additionally, Jones et al.'s (2010) exploration into the intricate interplay between names and political outcomes provided a tantalizing glimpse into the potential impact of monikers on the political landscape. Our results, much like finding a winning lottery ticket in a pile of old papers, align with their insights, further illuminating the bewildering influence of nomenclature on political behavior.

Even our whimsical examination of "Freakonomics" by Levitt and Dubner and our literary escapades with Rothfuss and Gaiman, despite their fantastical tinges, nudged us to consider the potential role of names in shaping political allegiances. Lo and behold, our analysis has bolstered these unconventional inklings, akin to a scientist high-fiving a wandering ghost for independently validating a theory.

The statistical significance of our findings, with a p-value less than 0.01, is as surprising as catching a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster in a spreadsheet. This robust level of significance echoes the resounding impact of the name Vivian on Republican votes, resonating with the unexpected correlations that often linger in the overlooked corners of statistical analysis, like forgotten socks beneath a bed.

In essence, our investigation, much like a cork popping off a champagne bottle, effervesces with the revelation of a captivating correlation that beckons further exploration. As we reflect on the old adage, "What's in a name?" it appears that when it comes to political preferences, the answer may be more than Shakespeare could have foreseen.

Stay tuned for more unexpected revelations in the mysterious realm of name-cidence and its influence on the political tapestry.


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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the curious correlation between the popularity of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in the state of South Carolina. We obtained data from the US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, rolled up our sleeves, and dived into the statistical pool with all the grace of a belly flop. Our analysis covers the period from 1978 to 2020, providing a comprehensive look at the relationship between a person’s moniker and their political inclinations.

After wading through mountains of data and dodging the siren call of distraction, we emerged with a correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 and a p-value of less than 0.01, much to our bewilderment. As we sifted through the numbers, we couldn't help but be struck by the overwhelming presence of Vivianness in the Republican voting patterns. It almost felt like the name Vivian was whispering "vote red" into our ears like a mischievous imp.

Ultimately, this research sheds light on an unexpected connection that leaves us pondering the strange and mysterious ways in which the human mind can be swayed, perhaps by something as seemingly insignificant as a name. Our findings may provoke more questions than answers, but if nothing else, we've uncovered a peculiar correlation that reminds us to always expect the unexpected.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The name Vivian – a moniker that evokes images of grace, elegance, and a distinct lack of participation in epic sword fights – has long been a staple in households across South Carolina. As with any good mystery, we couldn't help but wonder if there might be more to this seemingly innocuous name than meets the eye. Could there be a hidden influence, a secret pull, or even a voodoo-like spell woven into the fabric of this particular nomenclature?
In the hallowed halls of academia, where coffee flows like a river and statistical software reigns supreme, we embarked on a quest to unravel the enigma surrounding the popularity of the name Vivian and its curious relationship to Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. Armed with spreadsheets, bar graphs, and a healthy dose of skepticism, we aimed to bring clarity to this puzzling connection – or at the very least, have a good laugh at the absurdity of our own investigation.
It is said that the true mark of a serious researcher is the ability to maintain a straight face in the presence of eccentric correlations and eyebrow-raising variables. So, with the solemnity befitting a formal scientific inquiry, we set forth to analyze decades of data with the precision of a seasoned detective, all the while whispering jokes and puns under our breath like mischievous lab coat-clad jesters.
In the following pages, we will guide you through the maze of our findings, offering insight, amusement, and perhaps a smattering of eyebrow-raising surprise. Our journey will take us from the depths of statistical analysis to the whimsical territories of name popularity and political leanings, where the unexpected always lays in wait like a prankster with a penchant for throwing curveballs.
So, dear reader, fasten your seatbelts, adjust your data goggles, and prepare to embark on a whimsical, statistically rigorous, and slightly tongue-in-cheek investigation into the captivating world of Vivian, votin', and voodoo statistics.

[[RESULTS]]
The correlation analysis revealed a striking relationship between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. The correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 indicated a strong positive linear relationship, akin to finding a pair of matching socks in a chaotic laundry pile—oddly satisfying, yet surprising nonetheless.
A closer examination of the data illuminated an r-squared value of 0.8779081, signifying that approximately 87.79% of the variation in Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina could be explained by the popularity of the name Vivian. It's as if the name Vivian waltzed into the political arena with the swagger of a well-dressed debutante and left a lasting impression on the voting patterns, much like a suave charmer at a lively soirée.
The p-value of less than 0.01 further underscored the statistical significance of our findings, reminiscent of stumbling upon a rare artifact in the annals of statistical analysis—an unexpected gem that demands attention with a wink and a nod.
Analyzing these results left us with a sense of disbelief akin to finding a four-leaf clover in a field of data. However, the evidence was irrefutable—there exists a notable connection between the frequency of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. It's as if the name Vivian cast a spell over the electoral landscape, beckoning voters with an enigmatic allure that defies traditional political analysis.
This captivating relationship is depicted in Figure 1, a scatterplot that showcases the robust association between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina. The plot serves as a visual testament to the compelling nature of our statistical findings, demonstrating the kind of connection that gives researchers an unexpected twinkle in their eyes and a skip in their data interpretation step.
Our results, much like a magician's surprising reveal, support the notion that there may indeed be a sublime influence of a name on political affiliations. Further exploration of this curious phenomenon may lead to a deeper understanding of the interplay between nomenclature and voting behavior, and perhaps, uncover more unexpected correlations hiding in the annals of political science and statistical analysis.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our foray into the mystical realms of name-cidence and political predilections has left us both bewildered and amused. The tantalizing link between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina has unfurled before us like a whimsical plot twist in a Shakespearean comedy—delightfully unexpected and utterly charming.

As we stand at the crossroads of data analysis and name-based shenanigans, we cannot help but marvel at the mysterious dance of statistical significance and nomenclatural influence. To think that a simple name could wield such power over political allegiances is akin to stumbling upon a hidden treasure trove in the labyrinthine corridors of research—surprising, exhilarating, and perhaps a little surreal, like finding a unicorn in a petting zoo.

Our findings, with their correlation coefficient as conspicuous as a peacock in mating season, underscore the undeniable connection between the vivaciousness of Vivian and the crimson hues of Republican voting patterns. It's as if the name Vivian acted as a pied piper, leading voters down a path adorned with statistical flowers and curious puzzles, much like a mischievous sphinx inviting intellects to decipher its enigmatic riddles.

Indeed, our statistical escapade has unraveled not only a peculiar correlation but also the sheer mirth lurking within the confines of seemingly solemn research endeavors. It's as if our data analysis put on a masquerade ball, inviting us to revel in the delightful absurdity of our own investigation, and perhaps prompting a knowing chuckle from the wizened specter of empirical inquiry.

In light of these findings, it appears that the connection between the popularity of the name Vivian and Republican votes for Senators in South Carolina is as real as a phoenix rising from the ashes of statistical skepticism. The evidence, much like a well-crafted punchline, leaves us with a sense of wonder and an irrepressible urge to nudge our fellow researchers with a playful wink and a sly nod.

Therefore, we confidently assert that no further research is needed in this area, as the quirky charm of our findings stands as a testament to the captivating caprice of statistical exploration. It seems that, at least in South Carolina, Vivian's popularity and Republican votes are as intertwined as a pair of amorous koalas, and the statistical curtain has been drawn on this peculiar, yet thoroughly entertaining, name-cident analysis.


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 Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Political Pseudoscience


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 Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Society for Quantitative Satirical Analysis of Political Phenomena


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 Vivian, Votin', and Voodoo Statistics: A Name-cident Analysis of Republican Votes for Senators in South Carolina with an abstract of In this paper, we delve into the curious correlation between the popularity of the name Vivian and the Republican votes for Senators in the state of South Carolina. We obtained data from the US Social Security Administration and MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, rolled up our sleeves, and dived into the statistical pool with all the grace of a belly flop. Our analysis covers the period from 1978 to 2020, providing a comprehensive look at the relationship between a person’s moniker and their political inclinations.
After wading through mountains of data and dodging the siren call of distraction, we emerged with a correlation coefficient of 0.9369675 and a p-value of less than 0.01, much to our bewilderment. As we sifted through the numbers, we couldn't help but be struck by the overwhelming presence of Vivianness in the Republican voting patterns. It almost felt like the name Vivian was whispering "vote red" into our ears like a mischievous imp.
Ultimately, this research sheds light on an unexpected connection that leaves us pondering the strange and mysterious ways in which the human mind can be swayed, perhaps by something as seemingly insignificant as a name. Our findings may provoke more questions than answers, but if nothing else, we've uncovered a peculiar correlation that reminds us to always expect the unexpected.

ChatGPT:

Vivian, Republican votes, South Carolina, correlation, statistical analysis, US Social Security Administration, MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, political inclinations, correlation coefficient, p-value, Vivianness, vote red, human mind, correlation with names, political 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

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

Votes for Republican Senators in South Carolina
Detailed data title: Total number of votes cast for Federal Republican Senate candidates in South Carolina
Source: MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse
See what else correlates with Votes for Republican Senators in South Carolina

Correlation r = 0.9369675 (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 = 0.8779081 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 87.8% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Votes for Republican Senators in South Carolina) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Popularity of the first name Vivian) over the 15 years from 1978 through 2020.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 2.7E-7. 0.0000002657141168419875000000
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 0.94 in 2.7E-5% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 3,763,443 random variables You don't actually need 3 million 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 14 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 14 because we have two variables measured over a period of 15 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.

[ 0.82, 0.98 ] 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.
197819801984198619901992199619982002200420082010201420162020
Popularity of the first name Vivian (Babies born)3534154204435609199039121275142416451947306731412703
Votes for Republican Senators in South Carolina (Total votes)3519172579466448152628864820325541756198594882386000108571671076530810771143016012416101369140




Why this works

  1. Data dredging: I have 25,237 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 636,906,169 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead abused the data to see what correlations shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random.
  2. Lack of causal connection: There is probably Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
    no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied.
  3. Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A simple Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
    p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.




Try it yourself

You can calculate the values on this page on your own! Try running the Python code to see the calculation results. Step 1: Download and install Python on your computer.

Step 2: Open a plaintext editor like Notepad and paste the code below into it.

Step 3: Save the file as "calculate_correlation.py" in a place you will remember, like your desktop. Copy the file location to your clipboard. On Windows, you can right-click the file and click "Properties," and then copy what comes after "Location:" As an example, on my computer the location is "C:\Users\tyler\Desktop"

Step 4: Open a command line window. For example, by pressing start and typing "cmd" and them pressing enter.

Step 5: Install the required modules by typing "pip install numpy", then pressing enter, then typing "pip install scipy", then pressing enter.

Step 6: Navigate to the location where you saved the Python file by using the "cd" command. For example, I would type "cd C:\Users\tyler\Desktop" and push enter.

Step 7: Run the Python script by typing "python calculate_correlation.py"

If you run into any issues, I suggest asking ChatGPT to walk you through installing Python and running the code below on your system. Try this question:

"Walk me through installing Python on my computer to run a script that uses scipy and numpy. Go step-by-step and ask me to confirm before moving on. Start by asking me questions about my operating system so that you know how to proceed. Assume I want the simplest installation with the latest version of Python and that I do not currently have any of the necessary elements installed. Remember to only give me one step per response and confirm I have done it before proceeding."


# These modules make it easier to perform the calculation
import numpy as np
from scipy import stats

# We'll define a function that we can call to return the correlation calculations
def calculate_correlation(array1, array2):

    # Calculate Pearson correlation coefficient and p-value
    correlation, p_value = stats.pearsonr(array1, array2)

    # Calculate R-squared as the square of the correlation coefficient
    r_squared = correlation**2

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([353,415,420,443,560,919,903,912,1275,1424,1645,1947,3067,3141,2703,])
array_2 = np.array([351917,257946,644815,262886,482032,554175,619859,488238,600010,857167,1076530,810771,1430160,1241610,1369140,])
array_1_name = "Popularity of the first name Vivian"
array_2_name = "Votes for Republican Senators in South Carolina"

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

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



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

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

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

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Correlation ID: 5682 · Black Variable ID: 2580 · Red Variable ID: 26312
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