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Spurious correlation #1,025 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Air pollution in Phoenix and the second variable is Visitors to Disneyland.  The chart goes from 2007 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

The smog in Phoenix was sending secret signals to the Disney characters, making them act like smoggy mirrors of themselves. It was a real Mickey Mouse operation and visitors just couldn't Goofy with the flow. The pollution was creating a whole new world of confusion, leaving everyone feeling like they were stuck in a never-ending Dumbo ride. It was enough to make anyone say, "Air's no place like home!"

Generate an image of a classic 1960s comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern, depicting a scene at Disneyland. In the illustration, the smog-filled sky hangs heavily over the iconic castle, barely visible through the haze. Dust and dirt coat the rides and attractions, creating a weary and oppressive atmosphere. A tired-looking Mickey Mouse struggles to catch his breath as he walks through the nearly empty park, with only a handful of scattered visitors. The typical bustling energy and excitement of Disneyland is noticeably absent in this surreal and muted representation. 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 situation described. You respond only with the scene descriptions provided and say nothing else.
User prompt: Here is a situation: Unhealthy air quality in Phoenix causes potential Disneyland visitors to feel "Dismalia" as they decide to "air" on the side of caution and stay away from the theme park. The "pollutant" air is leading to a "decrease" in attendance, leaving Mickey feeling "exhausted" as he wheezes through the empty park.. Given that situation, which of the following image descriptions seems most appropriate? Pick the one that seems to be related to one of the variables at hand and the tone of the explanation. Please respond with only one of the following potential descriptions: Macabre Macabre A comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s Low poly Steampunk
ChatGPT: A comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated and the explanation described. Do not reference graphs or charts; describe physical objects.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that depicts the following situation. Keep the description simple. Unhealthy air quality in Phoenix causes potential Disneyland visitors to feel "Dismalia" as they decide to "air" on the side of caution and stay away from the theme park. The "pollutant" air is leading to a "decrease" in attendance, leaving Mickey feeling "exhausted" as he wheezes through the empty park.
ChatGPT: In the scene, the sky over Disneyland is hazy and filled with smog, making it difficult to see the iconic castle clearly. A thick layer of dust and dirt coats the rides and attractions, and the air feels heavy and difficult to breathe. Mickey Mouse, looking weary and tired, is seen struggling to catch his breath as he walks through a nearly empty park, with only a few visitors scattered around. The usual bustling energy and excitement of the park is noticeably absent. 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 comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s ] and depicting this scene: In the scene, the sky over Disneyland is hazy and filled with smog, making it difficult to see the iconic castle clearly. A thick layer of dust and dirt coats the rides and attractions, and the air feels heavy and difficult to breathe. Mickey Mouse, looking weary and tired, is seen struggling to catch his breath as he walks through a nearly empty park, with only a few visitors scattered around. The usual bustling energy and excitement of the park is noticeably absent. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a classic 1960s comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern, depicting a scene at Disneyland. In the illustration, the smog-filled sky hangs heavily over the iconic castle, barely visible through the haze. Dust and dirt coat the rides and attractions, creating a weary and oppressive atmosphere. A tired-looking Mickey Mouse struggles to catch his breath as he walks through the nearly empty park, with only a handful of scattered visitors. The typical bustling energy and excitement of Disneyland is noticeably absent in this surreal and muted representation.

*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 increases in Air pollution in Phoenix negatively influenced Visitors to Disneyland.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors

The Journal of Ecological Amusements

Jan 2024

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


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

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and Visitors to Disneyland. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Make the title an alliteration.

Your research team used data from Environmental Protection Agency and TEA to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 and p < 0.01 for 2007 to 2021.

Please respond in this format (replace "Lorem ipsum dolor sit" with your title and abstract)

[[TITLE]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit

[[ABSTRACT]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit



ChatGPT:
[[TITLE]]
Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors

[[ABSTRACT]]
This whimsically titled research paper presents the findings of a study that delves into the surprising connection between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland. Despite the seemingly unrelated nature of these two factors, our research team used data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association to assess this puzzling question. The study revealed a correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the period from 2007 to 2021. The results seemed to suggest that as air quality in Phoenix deteriorates, the number of visitors to Disneyland experiences an unexpected surge. The link defies conventional logic, leaving the research team puzzled by this whimsical phenomenon. This paper invites readers to embark on a comical journey through the peculiar landscape of air quality and theme park attendance, as we unravel this paradoxical relationship and offer quirky insights into the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate phenomena.
Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.You draft the introduction section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and Visitors to Disneyland. 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]]
Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors

[[ABSTRACT]]
This whimsically titled research paper presents the findings of a study that delves into the surprising connection between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland. Despite the seemingly unrelated nature of these two factors, our research team used data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association to assess this puzzling question. The study revealed a correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the period from 2007 to 2021. The results seemed to suggest that as air quality in Phoenix deteriorates, the number of visitors to Disneyland experiences an unexpected surge. The link defies conventional logic, leaving the research team puzzled by this whimsical phenomenon. This paper invites readers to embark on a comical journey through the peculiar landscape of air quality and theme park attendance, as we unravel this paradoxical relationship and offer quirky insights into the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate phenomena.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues and fellow enthusiasts of scientific tomfoolery, gather 'round as we embark on an exuberant expedition through the wacky world of research! Prepare to be delightfully perplexed as we venture into the bizarre abyss where Phoenix's air quality mingles with the magical mayhem of Disneyland visitors. Yes, you heard that right – we're about to unravel the riddle of how smoggy skies in Phoenix might just be adding a dash of whimsy to the Happiest Place on Earth!

Now, before you start scratching your heads and wondering if we've inhaled too many fumes from our research equipment, let's take a moment to appreciate the sheer absurdity of this investigation. "Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors" is not your typical run-of-the-mill research endeavor. No, this is a rip-roaring romp through the land of statistical shenanigans and mind-boggling correlations. It's like the scientific community's answer to a vaudevillian farce – and we're the madcap scientists who wouldn't have it any other way!

Picture this: towering cacti in the desert, a dust devil or two, and then – bam! – a sudden surge of Mickey Mouse ears and churro cravings at Disneyland. It sounds preposterous, doesn't it? But hold on to your lab coats, because that's the intriguing phenomenon we set out to investigate. As intrepid researchers armed with spreadsheets and whimsy, we've delved into the disparate worlds of atmospheric pollutants and theme park exhilaration, hoping to shed light on this delightfully confounding connection.

So, buckle up, fellow enthusiasts of scientific merriment! Our journey through the quirky landscape of air quality and theme park attendance promises to be a rollercoaster ride through the realm of improbable correlations and confounding conclusions. As we unpack the perplexing findings of our analysis, prepare to be amused, befuddled, and maybe – just maybe – enlightened by the unexpected synchrony between Phoenix's dirty air and the siren call of Space Mountain. It's a delightful dance between the serious business of scientific inquiry and the whimsical wonders of unexpected findings. So, let's don our most audacious bowties and embark on this preposterous pursuit of knowledge!
Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.You draft a literature review section of an academic research paper, that starts out dry for the first few sentences but then becomes hilarious and goofy.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and Visitors to Disneyland. 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 you might move on to cartoons and children's shows that you watched for research.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors

[[ABSTRACT]]
This whimsically titled research paper presents the findings of a study that delves into the surprising connection between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland. Despite the seemingly unrelated nature of these two factors, our research team used data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association to assess this puzzling question. The study revealed a correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the period from 2007 to 2021. The results seemed to suggest that as air quality in Phoenix deteriorates, the number of visitors to Disneyland experiences an unexpected surge. The link defies conventional logic, leaving the research team puzzled by this whimsical phenomenon. This paper invites readers to embark on a comical journey through the peculiar landscape of air quality and theme park attendance, as we unravel this paradoxical relationship and offer quirky insights into the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate phenomena.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues and fellow enthusiasts of scientific tomfoolery, gather 'round as we embark on an exuberant expedition through the wacky world of research! Prepare to be delightfully perplexed as we venture into the bizarre abyss where Phoenix's air quality mingles with the magical mayhem of Disneyland visitors. Yes, you heard that right – we're about to unravel the riddle of how smoggy skies in Phoenix might just be adding a dash of whimsy to the Happiest Place on Earth!
Now, before you start scratching your heads and wondering if we've inhaled too many fumes from our research equipment, let's take a moment to appreciate the sheer absurdity of this investigation. "Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors" is not your typical run-of-the-mill research endeavor. No, this is a rip-roaring romp through the land of statistical shenanigans and mind-boggling correlations. It's like the scientific community's answer to a vaudevillian farce – and we're the madcap scientists who wouldn't have it any other way!
Picture this: towering cacti in the desert, a dust devil or two, and then – bam! – a sudden surge of Mickey Mouse ears and churro cravings at Disneyland. It sounds preposterous, doesn't it? But hold on to your lab coats, because that's the intriguing phenomenon we set out to investigate. As intrepid researchers armed with spreadsheets and whimsy, we've delved into the disparate worlds of atmospheric pollutants and theme park exhilaration, hoping to shed light on this delightfully confounding connection.
So, buckle up, fellow enthusiasts of scientific merriment! Our journey through the quirky landscape of air quality and theme park attendance promises to be a rollercoaster ride through the realm of improbable correlations and confounding conclusions. As we unpack the perplexing findings of our analysis, prepare to be amused, befuddled, and maybe – just maybe – enlightened by the unexpected synchrony between Phoenix's dirty air and the siren call of Space Mountain. It's a delightful dance between the serious business of scientific inquiry and the whimsical wonders of unexpected findings. So, let's don our most audacious bowties and embark on this preposterous pursuit of knowledge!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

Numerous scholarly works have grappled with the intricate dynamics of air quality, theme park attendance, and their ostensibly implausible interplay. Smith (2015) delved into the impact of air pollution on human health, uncovering the deleterious effects of airborne particles on respiratory systems. Meanwhile, Doe (2018) conducted a thorough analysis of visitor trends at popular amusement parks, illuminating the various factors that influence attendance numbers. These earnest endeavors laid the groundwork for our own whimsical quest, prompting us to ponder the unfathomable question: could the skies of Phoenix hold an inexplicable allure for throngs of Disneyland enthusiasts?

Venturing beyond the realm of conventional research, we find ourselves perusing unconventional sources that offer playful perspectives on hidden connections. "The Tao of Pooh" (Hoff, 1982) offers philosophical musings within the Hundred Acre Wood, tempting us to consider the subtle harmony between seemingly incongruous elements – much like the improbable relationship under scrutiny in our study. In a similar vein, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (Adams, 1979) plunges us into an absurdist odyssey through space and time, hinting at the sheer absurdity that permeates our enigmatic investigation.

But let us not overlook the colorful world of fiction, where the unexpected becomes the norm and the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary. Through the pages of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (Carroll, 1865), we tumble headlong into a topsy-turvy realm of nonsensical happenings and surreal juxtapositions – a fitting parallel to the whimsical nexus between smog and Space Mountain. And who can forget the intrepid explorers of "The Magic School Bus" (Degen & Cole, 1986), whose zany escapades often lead to insights that defy the bounds of traditional scientific inquiry? As we channel the spirit of Ms. Frizzle and her merry band of young adventurers, we embrace the joy of discovery in the unlikeliest of places.

In this spirited pursuit of knowledge, it becomes abundantly clear that the absurd and the scholarly can harmonize like a cacophony of joyful contradictions. The research journey ahead promises a ludicrous and laudable blending of empirical evidence and whimsical wonderment, inviting us to ponder the perplexing interplay between the mystical allure of Disneyland and the enigmatic allure of polluted Phoenix skies. Let us forge ahead, venturing into delightfully confounding realms where the serious and the silly converge in a waltz of academic absurdity.
Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.You draft the methodology section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and Visitors to Disneyland. 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 Environmental Protection Agency and TEA . You used data from 2007 to 2021

Make up the research methods you don't know. Make them a bit goofy and convoluted.

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors

[[ABSTRACT]]
This whimsically titled research paper presents the findings of a study that delves into the surprising connection between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland. Despite the seemingly unrelated nature of these two factors, our research team used data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association to assess this puzzling question. The study revealed a correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the period from 2007 to 2021. The results seemed to suggest that as air quality in Phoenix deteriorates, the number of visitors to Disneyland experiences an unexpected surge. The link defies conventional logic, leaving the research team puzzled by this whimsical phenomenon. This paper invites readers to embark on a comical journey through the peculiar landscape of air quality and theme park attendance, as we unravel this paradoxical relationship and offer quirky insights into the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate phenomena.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues and fellow enthusiasts of scientific tomfoolery, gather 'round as we embark on an exuberant expedition through the wacky world of research! Prepare to be delightfully perplexed as we venture into the bizarre abyss where Phoenix's air quality mingles with the magical mayhem of Disneyland visitors. Yes, you heard that right – we're about to unravel the riddle of how smoggy skies in Phoenix might just be adding a dash of whimsy to the Happiest Place on Earth!
Now, before you start scratching your heads and wondering if we've inhaled too many fumes from our research equipment, let's take a moment to appreciate the sheer absurdity of this investigation. "Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors" is not your typical run-of-the-mill research endeavor. No, this is a rip-roaring romp through the land of statistical shenanigans and mind-boggling correlations. It's like the scientific community's answer to a vaudevillian farce – and we're the madcap scientists who wouldn't have it any other way!
Picture this: towering cacti in the desert, a dust devil or two, and then – bam! – a sudden surge of Mickey Mouse ears and churro cravings at Disneyland. It sounds preposterous, doesn't it? But hold on to your lab coats, because that's the intriguing phenomenon we set out to investigate. As intrepid researchers armed with spreadsheets and whimsy, we've delved into the disparate worlds of atmospheric pollutants and theme park exhilaration, hoping to shed light on this delightfully confounding connection.
So, buckle up, fellow enthusiasts of scientific merriment! Our journey through the quirky landscape of air quality and theme park attendance promises to be a rollercoaster ride through the realm of improbable correlations and confounding conclusions. As we unpack the perplexing findings of our analysis, prepare to be amused, befuddled, and maybe – just maybe – enlightened by the unexpected synchrony between Phoenix's dirty air and the siren call of Space Mountain. It's a delightful dance between the serious business of scientific inquiry and the whimsical wonders of unexpected findings. So, let's don our most audacious bowties and embark on this preposterous pursuit of knowledge!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

In this uproariously unconventional research undertaking, we employed a blend of statistical sorcery, data mining mischief, and cheeky creativity to unravel the enigmatic connection between Phoenix's air quality and the influx of zealous visitors to Disneyland. Our methodology was a delightful concoction of analytical rigour and whimsical wanderings – a unique fusion that could only have sprung from the minds of intrepid researchers with a penchant for scientific tomfoolery.

To commence this whimsical escapade, we embarked on a digital safari across the vast savannah of online databases, feasting on a smorgasbord of data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and The Entertainment Association (TEA). We rustled up air quality data from the sprawling metropolis of Phoenix, capturing the nuances of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter, and other atmospheric shenanigans from 2007 to 2021. Meanwhile, our mischievous band of researchers gleefully pilfered attendance figures from the Happiest Place on Earth, tracing the ebbs and flows of park visitors with the finesse of statistical swashbucklers.

In a display of statistical wizardry that would make Merlin himself raise an eyebrow, we subjected this treasure trove of data to a cacophony of analyses. Embracing the whimsical dance of correlation coefficients and p-values, we deftly wielded the tools of inferential statistics to uncover the mysterious threads binding Phoenix's air quality and the hordes of Disneyland pilgrims.

Our captivating ensemble of data danced gracefully with the elegant partner of regression analysis, allowing us to pirouette through patterns and trends with the finesse of ballroom dancers on a statistical stage. We adorned our methodology with the glittering jewels of multivariate models, sensibly adjusting for confounding variables such as temperature, precipitation, and the occasional appearance of a mercurial mouse in a magician's hat.

To ensure our findings weren't merely a result of statistical sleight of hand, we subjected our analyses to a battery of robustness checks, diligently scrutinizing the mischief of outliers and the capriciousness of data distribution. After all, in the whimsical world of research, one must always be wary of mischievous outliers and fractious data points.
Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.You draft the results section of an academic research paper. You speak in the past tense (you found...).
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and Visitors to Disneyland. 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 Environmental Protection Agency and TEA .

For the time period 2007 to 2021, you found a correlation -0.7866844, r-squared of 0.6188724, 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]]
Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors

[[ABSTRACT]]
This whimsically titled research paper presents the findings of a study that delves into the surprising connection between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland. Despite the seemingly unrelated nature of these two factors, our research team used data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association to assess this puzzling question. The study revealed a correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the period from 2007 to 2021. The results seemed to suggest that as air quality in Phoenix deteriorates, the number of visitors to Disneyland experiences an unexpected surge. The link defies conventional logic, leaving the research team puzzled by this whimsical phenomenon. This paper invites readers to embark on a comical journey through the peculiar landscape of air quality and theme park attendance, as we unravel this paradoxical relationship and offer quirky insights into the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate phenomena.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues and fellow enthusiasts of scientific tomfoolery, gather 'round as we embark on an exuberant expedition through the wacky world of research! Prepare to be delightfully perplexed as we venture into the bizarre abyss where Phoenix's air quality mingles with the magical mayhem of Disneyland visitors. Yes, you heard that right – we're about to unravel the riddle of how smoggy skies in Phoenix might just be adding a dash of whimsy to the Happiest Place on Earth!
Now, before you start scratching your heads and wondering if we've inhaled too many fumes from our research equipment, let's take a moment to appreciate the sheer absurdity of this investigation. "Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors" is not your typical run-of-the-mill research endeavor. No, this is a rip-roaring romp through the land of statistical shenanigans and mind-boggling correlations. It's like the scientific community's answer to a vaudevillian farce – and we're the madcap scientists who wouldn't have it any other way!
Picture this: towering cacti in the desert, a dust devil or two, and then – bam! – a sudden surge of Mickey Mouse ears and churro cravings at Disneyland. It sounds preposterous, doesn't it? But hold on to your lab coats, because that's the intriguing phenomenon we set out to investigate. As intrepid researchers armed with spreadsheets and whimsy, we've delved into the disparate worlds of atmospheric pollutants and theme park exhilaration, hoping to shed light on this delightfully confounding connection.
So, buckle up, fellow enthusiasts of scientific merriment! Our journey through the quirky landscape of air quality and theme park attendance promises to be a rollercoaster ride through the realm of improbable correlations and confounding conclusions. As we unpack the perplexing findings of our analysis, prepare to be amused, befuddled, and maybe – just maybe – enlightened by the unexpected synchrony between Phoenix's dirty air and the siren call of Space Mountain. It's a delightful dance between the serious business of scientific inquiry and the whimsical wonders of unexpected findings. So, let's don our most audacious bowties and embark on this preposterous pursuit of knowledge!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

In the illustrious realm of research findings, our study tiptoes into the enigmatic, the absurd, and the downright silly. Drum roll, please! After analyzing a plethora of data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association, we stumbled upon a remarkable correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland.

That's right, folks, it turns out that as the air quality in Phoenix plummeted to levels that would make even an oxygen molecule blush, the throngs of visitors flocking to Disneyland swelled in numbers that would make statisticians and theme park aficionados alike rub their eyes in disbelief. The r-squared value of 0.6188724 magnifies the audaciousness of this statistical escapade, indicating that over 61% of the variance in Disneyland visitors can be explained by the fluctuating levels of atmospheric tomfoolery in Phoenix.

And here's the cherry on top of this statistical conundrum: our p-value of less than 0.01 not only raises eyebrows but also launches them into another stratosphere. This means that the probability of such a strong relationship occurring by sheer chance is so improbable, it makes winning the lottery look like a walk in the park (or perhaps a stroll down Main Street, USA).

But wait, there's more! Fig. 1, the pièce de résistance of this goofy gala of correlations, is a scatterplot that visually encapsulates the sheer absurdity of our findings. Behold, as the data points cavort across the graph in a harmonious yet confounding ballet, twirling and pirouetting with the whimsical fervor of a parade of cartoon characters on parade day. It's a sight to behold, a visual testament to the inexplicable synchronicity between pollution puzzles and peculiar pilgrimages.

In the grand tradition of scientific inquiry, our results beckon us to embrace the whimsical wonders of the unexpected, to chuckle at the statistical antics that leave us equal parts befuddled and delighted. Join us, dear readers, in relishing this preposterous paradox, as we unravel the comical camaraderie between smog-choked Phoenix skies and the allure of Cinderella's Castle.
Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.You draft the discussion section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and Visitors to Disneyland. 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]]
Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors

[[ABSTRACT]]
This whimsically titled research paper presents the findings of a study that delves into the surprising connection between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland. Despite the seemingly unrelated nature of these two factors, our research team used data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association to assess this puzzling question. The study revealed a correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the period from 2007 to 2021. The results seemed to suggest that as air quality in Phoenix deteriorates, the number of visitors to Disneyland experiences an unexpected surge. The link defies conventional logic, leaving the research team puzzled by this whimsical phenomenon. This paper invites readers to embark on a comical journey through the peculiar landscape of air quality and theme park attendance, as we unravel this paradoxical relationship and offer quirky insights into the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate phenomena.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
Numerous scholarly works have grappled with the intricate dynamics of air quality, theme park attendance, and their ostensibly implausible interplay. Smith (2015) delved into the impact of air pollution on human health, uncovering the deleterious effects of airborne particles on respiratory systems. Meanwhile, Doe (2018) conducted a thorough analysis of visitor trends at popular amusement parks, illuminating the various factors that influence attendance numbers. These earnest endeavors laid the groundwork for our own whimsical quest, prompting us to ponder the unfathomable question: could the skies of Phoenix hold an inexplicable allure for throngs of Disneyland enthusiasts?
Venturing beyond the realm of conventional research, we find ourselves perusing unconventional sources that offer playful perspectives on hidden connections. "The Tao of Pooh" (Hoff, 1982) offers philosophical musings within the Hundred Acre Wood, tempting us to consider the subtle harmony between seemingly incongruous elements – much like the improbable relationship under scrutiny in our study. In a similar vein, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (Adams, 1979) plunges us into an absurdist odyssey through space and time, hinting at the sheer absurdity that permeates our enigmatic investigation.
But let us not overlook the colorful world of fiction, where the unexpected becomes the norm and the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary. Through the pages of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (Carroll, 1865), we tumble headlong into a topsy-turvy realm of nonsensical happenings and surreal juxtapositions – a fitting parallel to the whimsical nexus between smog and Space Mountain. And who can forget the intrepid explorers of "The Magic School Bus" (Degen & Cole, 1986), whose zany escapades often lead to insights that defy the bounds of traditional scientific inquiry? As we channel the spirit of Ms. Frizzle and her merry band of young adventurers, we embrace the joy of discovery in the unlikeliest of places.
In this spirited pursuit of knowledge, it becomes abundantly clear that the absurd and the scholarly can harmonize like a cacophony of joyful contradictions. The research journey ahead promises a ludicrous and laudable blending of empirical evidence and whimsical wonderment, inviting us to ponder the perplexing interplay between the mystical allure of Disneyland and the enigmatic allure of polluted Phoenix skies. Let us forge ahead, venturing into delightfully confounding realms where the serious and the silly converge in a waltz of academic absurdity.

[[RESULTS]]
In the illustrious realm of research findings, our study tiptoes into the enigmatic, the absurd, and the downright silly. Drum roll, please! After analyzing a plethora of data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association, we stumbled upon a remarkable correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland.
That's right, folks, it turns out that as the air quality in Phoenix plummeted to levels that would make even an oxygen molecule blush, the throngs of visitors flocking to Disneyland swelled in numbers that would make statisticians and theme park aficionados alike rub their eyes in disbelief. The r-squared value of 0.6188724 magnifies the audaciousness of this statistical escapade, indicating that over 61% of the variance in Disneyland visitors can be explained by the fluctuating levels of atmospheric tomfoolery in Phoenix.
And here's the cherry on top of this statistical conundrum: our p-value of less than 0.01 not only raises eyebrows but also launches them into another stratosphere. This means that the probability of such a strong relationship occurring by sheer chance is so improbable, it makes winning the lottery look like a walk in the park (or perhaps a stroll down Main Street, USA).
But wait, there's more! Fig. 1, the pièce de résistance of this goofy gala of correlations, is a scatterplot that visually encapsulates the sheer absurdity of our findings. Behold, as the data points cavort across the graph in a harmonious yet confounding ballet, twirling and pirouetting with the whimsical fervor of a parade of cartoon characters on parade day. It's a sight to behold, a visual testament to the inexplicable synchronicity between pollution puzzles and peculiar pilgrimages.
In the grand tradition of scientific inquiry, our results beckon us to embrace the whimsical wonders of the unexpected, to chuckle at the statistical antics that leave us equal parts befuddled and delighted. Join us, dear readers, in relishing this preposterous paradox, as we unravel the comical camaraderie between smog-choked Phoenix skies and the allure of Cinderella's Castle.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

Ah, the deeply mysterious and inexplicable commingling of smog and Space Mountain – a conundrum that our research has endeavored to shine a comically absurd light upon. Our findings, like a rollercoaster ride through the realms of statistical silliness, embark on a whimsical journey that defies conventional logic and tickles the neurons of the most staid of academics.

Our discovery of a statistically significant negative correlation between deteriorating air quality in Phoenix and the burgeoning hordes of visitors at Disneyland not only raises eyebrows but also evokes a delightful sense of befuddlement. This surprising revelation seems to validate the whimsically inquisitive musings of Smith (2015) and Doe (2018), as we chuckle at the perversely amiable rapport between pollution puzzles and peculiar pilgrimages. Who knew that the atmospheric tomfoolery in Phoenix could play such an instrumental role in steering throngs of merrymakers toward Mickey and Minnie's abode?

The research community may find itself engaged in a jocular dance of empirical absurdity, evoking the zany escapades of "The Magic School Bus" (Degen & Cole, 1986) and the topsy-turvy realm of nonsensical happenings reminiscent of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (Carroll, 1865). As researchers, we are reminded of the Taoist musings within the Hundred Acre Wood (Hoff, 1982), pondering the subtle harmony between seemingly incongruous elements. Our findings contribute to this whimsical tapestry of interconnectedness, highlighting the ludic potential within empirical inquiry.

The significance of our r-squared value, wielding its statistical quirkiness and accounting for over 61% of the variance in Disneyland visitors, stands as a resplendent testament to the remarkable synchronicity between the pollution paradox and the pulsating appeal of Main Street, USA. Oh, the statistical antics that leave us equal parts bemused and delighted! Our scatterplot, akin to a joyous carnival of data points, waltzes and pirouettes across the graph with the whimsical fervor of a parade of cartoon characters – a sight to behold, indeed.

As we continue to unfurl the preposterous paradox of smog-choked Phoenix skies and the siren call of Cinderella's Castle, this whimsical journey calls upon the research community to revel in the comical camaraderie between variables previously deemed incongruent. Let us embrace the peculiar allure of statistical absurdity and chortle at the delightful unlikelihood encapsulated in our findings. After all, what journey through the whimsical landscapes of research would be complete without a dash of statistical whimsy and a healthy dose of delightfully confounding revelry?
Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a silly researcher writing an academic paper.You draft the discussion section of goofy academic research papers that sounds like it belongs based on the title and abstract provided.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and Visitors to Disneyland. 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]]
Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors

[[ABSTRACT]]
This whimsically titled research paper presents the findings of a study that delves into the surprising connection between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland. Despite the seemingly unrelated nature of these two factors, our research team used data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association to assess this puzzling question. The study revealed a correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the period from 2007 to 2021. The results seemed to suggest that as air quality in Phoenix deteriorates, the number of visitors to Disneyland experiences an unexpected surge. The link defies conventional logic, leaving the research team puzzled by this whimsical phenomenon. This paper invites readers to embark on a comical journey through the peculiar landscape of air quality and theme park attendance, as we unravel this paradoxical relationship and offer quirky insights into the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate phenomena.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues and fellow enthusiasts of scientific tomfoolery, gather 'round as we embark on an exuberant expedition through the wacky world of research! Prepare to be delightfully perplexed as we venture into the bizarre abyss where Phoenix's air quality mingles with the magical mayhem of Disneyland visitors. Yes, you heard that right – we're about to unravel the riddle of how smoggy skies in Phoenix might just be adding a dash of whimsy to the Happiest Place on Earth!
Now, before you start scratching your heads and wondering if we've inhaled too many fumes from our research equipment, let's take a moment to appreciate the sheer absurdity of this investigation. "Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors" is not your typical run-of-the-mill research endeavor. No, this is a rip-roaring romp through the land of statistical shenanigans and mind-boggling correlations. It's like the scientific community's answer to a vaudevillian farce – and we're the madcap scientists who wouldn't have it any other way!
Picture this: towering cacti in the desert, a dust devil or two, and then – bam! – a sudden surge of Mickey Mouse ears and churro cravings at Disneyland. It sounds preposterous, doesn't it? But hold on to your lab coats, because that's the intriguing phenomenon we set out to investigate. As intrepid researchers armed with spreadsheets and whimsy, we've delved into the disparate worlds of atmospheric pollutants and theme park exhilaration, hoping to shed light on this delightfully confounding connection.
So, buckle up, fellow enthusiasts of scientific merriment! Our journey through the quirky landscape of air quality and theme park attendance promises to be a rollercoaster ride through the realm of improbable correlations and confounding conclusions. As we unpack the perplexing findings of our analysis, prepare to be amused, befuddled, and maybe – just maybe – enlightened by the unexpected synchrony between Phoenix's dirty air and the siren call of Space Mountain. It's a delightful dance between the serious business of scientific inquiry and the whimsical wonders of unexpected findings. So, let's don our most audacious bowties and embark on this preposterous pursuit of knowledge!

[[RESULTS]]
In the illustrious realm of research findings, our study tiptoes into the enigmatic, the absurd, and the downright silly. Drum roll, please! After analyzing a plethora of data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association, we stumbled upon a remarkable correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland.
That's right, folks, it turns out that as the air quality in Phoenix plummeted to levels that would make even an oxygen molecule blush, the throngs of visitors flocking to Disneyland swelled in numbers that would make statisticians and theme park aficionados alike rub their eyes in disbelief. The r-squared value of 0.6188724 magnifies the audaciousness of this statistical escapade, indicating that over 61% of the variance in Disneyland visitors can be explained by the fluctuating levels of atmospheric tomfoolery in Phoenix.
And here's the cherry on top of this statistical conundrum: our p-value of less than 0.01 not only raises eyebrows but also launches them into another stratosphere. This means that the probability of such a strong relationship occurring by sheer chance is so improbable, it makes winning the lottery look like a walk in the park (or perhaps a stroll down Main Street, USA).
But wait, there's more! Fig. 1, the pièce de résistance of this goofy gala of correlations, is a scatterplot that visually encapsulates the sheer absurdity of our findings. Behold, as the data points cavort across the graph in a harmonious yet confounding ballet, twirling and pirouetting with the whimsical fervor of a parade of cartoon characters on parade day. It's a sight to behold, a visual testament to the inexplicable synchronicity between pollution puzzles and peculiar pilgrimages.
In the grand tradition of scientific inquiry, our results beckon us to embrace the whimsical wonders of the unexpected, to chuckle at the statistical antics that leave us equal parts befuddled and delighted. Join us, dear readers, in relishing this preposterous paradox, as we unravel the comical camaraderie between smog-choked Phoenix skies and the allure of Cinderella's Castle.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our research has waltzed its way through the whimsical wonderland of statistical shenanigans to shed light on the confounding correlation between Phoenix's polluted air and Disneyland's influx of visitors. We've navigated the unabashedly ludicrous landscape of data analysis to uncover a relationship that would make even the most seasoned researcher do a double take. It seems that as Phoenix's air quality takes a nosedive, the allure of Dole Whips and teacup twirls at Disneyland skyrockets, creating a paradoxical dance of atmospheric absurdity.

But fear not, fellow aficionados of scientific merriment, for our findings offer a brief respite from the mundanity of traditional research. Our study beckons us to embrace the delightful quirks of statistical serendipity, allowing us to revel in the unexpected synchrony between environmental adversity and the enchantment of theme park escapades. As we bid adieu to this preposterous pursuit of knowledge, it becomes abundantly clear that no further research is needed in this whimsical realm of amusement park pandemonium and air quality antics. After all, how much statistical absurdity can one handle before it becomes positively Goofy?

So, let these findings stand as a testament to the whimsical wonders of scientific inquiry, reminding us that even in the realm of rigorous analysis, there's always room for a dash of statistical whimsy and a sprinkle of research razzle-dazzle. After all, in the words of Mickey Mouse himself, "Oh boy! That's some swell science!"
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 Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Ecological Amusements
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 Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Center for Ecological Enigmas and Amusing Associations (CE3A)
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 Pollution Puzzles and Peculiar Pilgrimages: Probing the Paradoxical Link between Phoenix Air Quality and Disneyland Visitors with an abstract of This whimsically titled research paper presents the findings of a study that delves into the surprising connection between unhealthy air quality in Phoenix and the number of visitors to Disneyland. Despite the seemingly unrelated nature of these two factors, our research team used data from the Environmental Protection Agency and The Entertainment Association to assess this puzzling question. The study revealed a correlation coefficient of -0.7866844 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the period from 2007 to 2021. The results seemed to suggest that as air quality in Phoenix deteriorates, the number of visitors to Disneyland experiences an unexpected surge. The link defies conventional logic, leaving the research team puzzled by this whimsical phenomenon. This paper invites readers to embark on a comical journey through the peculiar landscape of air quality and theme park attendance, as we unravel this paradoxical relationship and offer quirky insights into the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate phenomena.

ChatGPT:

pollution, air quality, Phoenix, Disneyland, visitors, correlation coefficient, p-value, Environmental Protection Agency, Entertainment Association, paradoxical relationship, theme park attendance

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



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Data details

Air pollution in Phoenix
Detailed data title: Percentage of days with air quality at 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' or worse in Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
See what else correlates with Air pollution in Phoenix

Visitors to Disneyland
Detailed data title: Number of visitors to Disneyland (Anaheim)
Source: TEA
See what else correlates with Visitors to Disneyland

Correlation r = -0.7866844 (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 = 0.6188724 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 61.9% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Visitors to Disneyland) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Air pollution in Phoenix) over the 15 years from 2007 through 2021.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 0.000503. 0.0005027119120903106000000000
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 -0.79 in 0.0503% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 1,989 random variables Which I absolutely did.
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.

[ -0.93, -0.46 ] 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.
200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Air pollution in Phoenix (Bad air quality days)60.821954.91821.369916.164436.438430.327928.767132.602719.178120.491826.027423.287714.794562.841565.2055
Visitors to Disneyland (Disneyland Visitors)14.8714.72115.915.9816.1415.96316.20216.76918.27817.94318.318.66618.6663.6748.573




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. Inverted Y-axis: I inverted the Y-axis on the chart above so that the lines would move together. This is visually pleasing, but not at all intuitive. Below is a line graph that does not invert the Y-axis and starts 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([60.8219,54.918,21.3699,16.1644,36.4384,30.3279,28.7671,32.6027,19.1781,20.4918,26.0274,23.2877,14.7945,62.8415,65.2055,])
array_2 = np.array([14.87,14.721,15.9,15.98,16.14,15.963,16.202,16.769,18.278,17.943,18.3,18.666,18.666,3.674,8.573,])
array_1_name = "Air pollution in Phoenix"
array_2_name = "Visitors to Disneyland"

# 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: 1025 · Black Variable ID: 21061 · Red Variable ID: 515
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