Spurious correlation #1,475 · View random
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Bachelor's degrees awarded in literature and the second variable is US birth rates of triplets or more. The chart goes from 2012 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Bachelor's degrees awarded in literature and the second variable is US birth rates of triplets or more. The chart goes from 2012 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

As the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in English language and literature/letters decreases, there is a corresponding decline in the production of complex, multi-layered romantic novels. This shortage of overly dramatic and convoluted love stories directly impacts the nation's ability to conceive multiple babies at once, as potential parents no longer have excessively elaborate plotlines to inspire their reproductive efforts. In essence, there are simply not enough tales of tangled love affairs and intertwined destinies to stimulate the conception of triplets or more.

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image that resembles a scene from a Disney movie, illustrating a heartwarming moment where a graduate proudly holds a Bachelor's degree in English language and literature in a cozy library surrounded by classic books and a warm glow from a desk lamp. Additionally, depict a nearby hospital room where an overjoyed couple welcomes triplets into the world, bringing smiles to everyone around them. 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: Bachelor's degrees awarded in English language and literature/letters and US birth rates of triplets or more. 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: Scalar art Cybernetic art Brutalism Parallax art An image that looks like it is a scene from A Disney Movie
ChatGPT: An image that looks like it is a scene from A Disney Movie

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 Bachelor's degrees awarded in English language and literature/letters and US birth rates of triplets or more together. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a cozy library, a graduate proudly holds a Bachelor's degree in English language and literature, surrounded by classic books and a warm glow from a desk lamp. Meanwhile, in a nearby hospital room, an overjoyed couple welcomes a rare and beautiful sight - triplets entering the world, bringing smiles to all around them.

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: [ An image that looks like it is a scene from A Disney Movie ] and depicting this scene: In a cozy library, a graduate proudly holds a Bachelor's degree in English language and literature, surrounded by classic books and a warm glow from a desk lamp. Meanwhile, in a nearby hospital room, an overjoyed couple welcomes a rare and beautiful sight - triplets entering the world, bringing smiles to all around them. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image that resembles a scene from a Disney movie, illustrating a heartwarming moment where a graduate proudly holds a Bachelor's degree in English language and literature in a cozy library surrounded by classic books and a warm glow from a desk lamp. Additionally, depict a nearby hospital room where an overjoyed couple welcomes triplets into the world, bringing smiles to everyone around them.

*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.
^{Show prompt for explanation} Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how a decrease in Bachelor's degrees awarded in English language and literature/letters caused US birth rates of triplets or more to decrease.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

The Write Stuff: A Tale of Multiples – English Degrees and Triplet Birth Rates in the United States

The Journal of Linguistic Multiplicity

Jan 2024

Reminder: This paper is AI-generated. Not real!

^{Show prompt used to generate this paper} Quick note: This sequence is long and repetitive. That's how the prompt engineering works for this one. I manage the output in Python to format it into this PDF.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You 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 Bachelor's degrees awarded in English language and literature/letters and US birth rates of triplets or more. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Perhaps you also got inspiration from some board games that are vaugely related.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
The Write Stuff: A Tale of Multiples – English Degrees and Triplet Birth Rates in the United States

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the intriguing relationship between the conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States. Utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the research team conducted a comprehensive analysis spanning the years 2012 to 2021. The results revealed a noteworthy correlation coefficient of 0.9693270 and a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust statistical association between these seemingly disparate phenomena. The implications of these findings provoke contemplation about the potential influence of the written word on the biological world, and may lead to further inquiries into the interplay between linguistic pursuits and reproductive outcomes. The study offers a whimsical yet thought-provoking perspective on the interconnectedness of academic disciplines and human experiences, providing fertile ground for future scholarly exploration.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters has long been associated with erudition, eloquence, and perhaps the occasional bout of existential pondering. Meanwhile, the birth of triplets or more in the United States is a phenomenon that often elicits awe and curiosity, along with a dash of bewilderment at the logistics of managing a trio of tiny humans. However, the potential connection between these two seemingly disparate realms – the world of literary linguistics and the realm of multiple offspring – has remained largely unexplored.
While numerous studies have investigated the influence of various factors on birth rates, from socioeconomic indicators to access to healthcare, the potential impact of English degrees on the incidence of triplet births has remained uncharted territory. The paucity of research in this area is somewhat surprising, given the rich history of fertility-related metaphors and idioms in the English language. From "the fruitful womb of his imagination" to "giving birth to new ideas," the link between language and procreation has, in a way, been hiding in plain sight.
Our research seeks to shed light on this enigmatic relationship, drawing from a decade of data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a statistical correlation coefficient that would make even the most stoic researcher raise an eyebrow – or perhaps even crack a smile – the findings of this study unveil a striking connection between the conferral of English degrees and the occurrence of triplets or more.
Through the lens of this unexpected correlation, our study endeavors to inject a touch of whimsy into the often austere world of scholarly inquiry. While the implications of these findings may initially appear lighthearted, they also beckon us to consider the potential influence of language – and the academic pursuits that revolve around it – on the biological phenomena that shape our world. As we embark on this unconventional academic escapade, we invite readers to join us in exploring the intersection of linguistic scholarship and the marvels of human fertility, and to indulge in a bit of scholarly mirth along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

The relationship between the conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States has become an intriguing subject of scholarly inquiry. Previous research has primarily focused on the impact of more traditional factors on birth rates, such as maternal age, fertility treatments, and genetic predispositions. However, a paucity of studies has delved into the potential influence of academic pursuits in the realm of linguistic arts on the occurrence of multiple offspring. This section provides an overview of the existing literature and sets the stage for our investigation into the whimsical connection between the world of English degrees and the phenomenon of triplet births in the United States.

Smith et al. (2015) explored the association between educational attainment and fertility patterns, examining a wide array of academic disciplines. Their comprehensive analysis offered valuable insights into the correlation between specific fields of study and reproductive outcomes. While their study did not specifically isolate English language and literature/letters degrees, it laid the foundation for considering the potential influence of academic disciplines on fertility.

In "Book" by Doe (2018), the authors present a compelling argument regarding the broader societal impact of literary pursuits. Their examination of the cultural significance of literature sheds light on the potential reverberations of linguistic endeavors in various facets of human experience, albeit without directly addressing the realm of fertility and birth rates.

Moreover, Jones and colleagues (2020) conducted a seminal investigation into the correlation between reading habits and fertility preferences. Their study highlighted the intersection of literary engagement and reproductive decision-making, illuminating the potential influence of exposure to written language on family planning. While their focus was not on formal academic degrees, their work underscores the connection between language, literature, and reproductive choices.

Turning to non-fiction works related to the power of language and its potential influence on human experiences, "The Language Instinct" by Steven Pinker, "The Power of Babel" by John H. McWhorter, and "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Lynne Truss offer profound insights into the intricate web of linguistic expression and its impact on societal dynamics. Additionally, fiction books such as "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown incorporate elements of literary intrigue and linguistic mysteries that captivate the imagination and hint at the profound influence of written language on human consciousness.

In a whimsical deviation from traditional sources, the board game "Scrabble" and its digital counterpart "Words With Friends" stand as playful testaments to the enduring allure of language-based pastimes, infusing a sense of mirth and linguistic engagement into the daily lives of players around the world.

The examination of these diverse literary and cultural works serves to situate our investigation within the broader context of linguistic influence and invites a lighthearted approach to exploring the interconnectedness of language, academia, and the marvels of human fertility.

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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in English language and literature/letters and US birth rates of triplets or more. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from National Center for Education Statistics and CDC . You used data from 2012 to 2021

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

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
The Write Stuff: A Tale of Multiples – English Degrees and Triplet Birth Rates in the United States

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the intriguing relationship between the conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States. Utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the research team conducted a comprehensive analysis spanning the years 2012 to 2021. The results revealed a noteworthy correlation coefficient of 0.9693270 and a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust statistical association between these seemingly disparate phenomena. The implications of these findings provoke contemplation about the potential influence of the written word on the biological world, and may lead to further inquiries into the interplay between linguistic pursuits and reproductive outcomes. The study offers a whimsical yet thought-provoking perspective on the interconnectedness of academic disciplines and human experiences, providing fertile ground for future scholarly exploration.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters has long been associated with erudition, eloquence, and perhaps the occasional bout of existential pondering. Meanwhile, the birth of triplets or more in the United States is a phenomenon that often elicits awe and curiosity, along with a dash of bewilderment at the logistics of managing a trio of tiny humans. However, the potential connection between these two seemingly disparate realms – the world of literary linguistics and the realm of multiple offspring – has remained largely unexplored.
While numerous studies have investigated the influence of various factors on birth rates, from socioeconomic indicators to access to healthcare, the potential impact of English degrees on the incidence of triplet births has remained uncharted territory. The paucity of research in this area is somewhat surprising, given the rich history of fertility-related metaphors and idioms in the English language. From "the fruitful womb of his imagination" to "giving birth to new ideas," the link between language and procreation has, in a way, been hiding in plain sight.
Our research seeks to shed light on this enigmatic relationship, drawing from a decade of data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a statistical correlation coefficient that would make even the most stoic researcher raise an eyebrow – or perhaps even crack a smile – the findings of this study unveil a striking connection between the conferral of English degrees and the occurrence of triplets or more.
Through the lens of this unexpected correlation, our study endeavors to inject a touch of whimsy into the often austere world of scholarly inquiry. While the implications of these findings may initially appear lighthearted, they also beckon us to consider the potential influence of language – and the academic pursuits that revolve around it – on the biological phenomena that shape our world. As we embark on this unconventional academic escapade, we invite readers to join us in exploring the intersection of linguistic scholarship and the marvels of human fertility, and to indulge in a bit of scholarly mirth along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To probe into the curious juxtaposition of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters with the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States, a comprehensive and somewhat unconventional approach was employed. The data for Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters was sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics, while the birth rates of triplets or more were derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The research methodology involved a whimsical concoction of statistical analyses, linguistic lingo, and a touch of scholarly mirth. The data, spanning the years from 2012 to 2021, was meticulously gathered from various public databases, where we sifted through an assortment of numerical nuggets to uncover the tantalizing relationship between the conferral of English degrees and the birth of multiples.

Initial data cleaning involved a jocular juggling of degrees and birth statistics to ensure that the figures were suitably harmonized for comparative analysis. Once the data was aligned, a series of correlation analyses and regression models were wielded with the precision of a linguistic acrobat, aiming to discern any acrobatics in the relationship between the conferral of English degrees and the occurrence of triplet births.

The statistical analyses were conducted with the utmost sobriety, employing robust methodologies to navigate the potentially treacherous terrain of correlated data. Furthermore, the findings were subjected to sensitivity analyses akin to a discerning sommelier, ensuring that the results retained their potency across a range of methodological permutations.

In our relentless quest for scholarly mirth, we engaged in a light-hearted exploration of potential confounding variables that could affect the observed connection, playfully pondering whether the influence of English degrees on triplet birth rates might be mediated by the lyrical cadence of Shakespearean sonnets or the alliterative allure of Anglo-Saxon verse.

The culmination of these methodological meanderings yielded a trove of data that allowed us to unravel a correlation coefficient of 0.9693270, accompanied by a p-value of less than 0.01, thus affirming the robust statistical association between the conferral of English degrees and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States. This somewhat surprising outcome kindled contemplation about the potential impact of linguistic pursuits on the phenomena of human fertility and beckons us to further explore this whimsical interplay between scholarly disciplines and the marvels of the natural world.

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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in English language and literature/letters and US birth rates of triplets or more. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

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

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

[[TITLE]]
The Write Stuff: A Tale of Multiples – English Degrees and Triplet Birth Rates in the United States

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the intriguing relationship between the conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States. Utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the research team conducted a comprehensive analysis spanning the years 2012 to 2021. The results revealed a noteworthy correlation coefficient of 0.9693270 and a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust statistical association between these seemingly disparate phenomena. The implications of these findings provoke contemplation about the potential influence of the written word on the biological world, and may lead to further inquiries into the interplay between linguistic pursuits and reproductive outcomes. The study offers a whimsical yet thought-provoking perspective on the interconnectedness of academic disciplines and human experiences, providing fertile ground for future scholarly exploration.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
The relationship between the conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States has become an intriguing subject of scholarly inquiry. Previous research has primarily focused on the impact of more traditional factors on birth rates, such as maternal age, fertility treatments, and genetic predispositions. However, a paucity of studies has delved into the potential influence of academic pursuits in the realm of linguistic arts on the occurrence of multiple offspring. This section provides an overview of the existing literature and sets the stage for our investigation into the whimsical connection between the world of English degrees and the phenomenon of triplet births in the United States.
Smith et al. (2015) explored the association between educational attainment and fertility patterns, examining a wide array of academic disciplines. Their comprehensive analysis offered valuable insights into the correlation between specific fields of study and reproductive outcomes. While their study did not specifically isolate English language and literature/letters degrees, it laid the foundation for considering the potential influence of academic disciplines on fertility.
In "Book" by Doe (2018), the authors present a compelling argument regarding the broader societal impact of literary pursuits. Their examination of the cultural significance of literature sheds light on the potential reverberations of linguistic endeavors in various facets of human experience, albeit without directly addressing the realm of fertility and birth rates.
Moreover, Jones and colleagues (2020) conducted a seminal investigation into the correlation between reading habits and fertility preferences. Their study highlighted the intersection of literary engagement and reproductive decision-making, illuminating the potential influence of exposure to written language on family planning. While their focus was not on formal academic degrees, their work underscores the connection between language, literature, and reproductive choices.
Turning to non-fiction works related to the power of language and its potential influence on human experiences, "The Language Instinct" by Steven Pinker, "The Power of Babel" by John H. McWhorter, and "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Lynne Truss offer profound insights into the intricate web of linguistic expression and its impact on societal dynamics. Additionally, fiction books such as "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown incorporate elements of literary intrigue and linguistic mysteries that captivate the imagination and hint at the profound influence of written language on human consciousness.
In a whimsical deviation from traditional sources, the board game "Scrabble" and its digital counterpart "Words With Friends" stand as playful testaments to the enduring allure of language-based pastimes, infusing a sense of mirth and linguistic engagement into the daily lives of players around the world.
The examination of these diverse literary and cultural works serves to situate our investigation within the broader context of linguistic influence and invites a lighthearted approach to exploring the interconnectedness of language, academia, and the marvels of human fertility.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of data spanning the years 2012 to 2021 revealed a striking correlation between the conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States. The correlation coefficient was found to be 0.9693270, with an r-squared value of 0.9395949 and a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong statistical relationship between these two seemingly unrelated variables.
Figure 1 depicts a scatterplot illustrating the robust correlation between the number of English degrees awarded and the incidence of triplet or higher-order births. The data points coalesce into a clear upward trend, akin to the rising action of a compelling narrative – albeit one that unfolds in the realm of birth statistics. The visual representation further underscores the noteworthy association between academic pursuits in English language and the occurrence of multiple births.
The implications of these findings add a curious twist to the tale of academic disciplines and human experiences. The connection between the written word and the phenomenon of multiple offspring invites reflection on the potential influence of linguistic pursuits on reproductive outcomes. This correlation inspires contemplation about the fertile intersection of literary exploration and biological phenomena, prompting future avenues of interdisciplinary inquiry.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of our study offer a peculiar yet compelling corroboration of the potential interplay between academic pursuits in English language and literature/letters and the occurrence of triplet or higher-order births in the United States. The striking correlation coefficient of 0.9693270, with an r-squared value of 0.9395949 and a p-value of less than 0.01, supports the notion that there might be more to the story than meets the eye.

The whimsical allusions to literary and cultural works in our literature review, including the scholarly value of "Scrabble" and "Words With Friends," may, in fact, hold hidden nuggets of wisdom. The pivotal role of language in shaping human consciousness and social dynamics, as explored in works both fictional and non-fictional, hints at the intriguing possibility of linguistic endeavors extending their influence to even the realm of reproductive outcomes. By heeding the not-so-subtle call to "read between the lines," we may find unexpected connections between the word on the page and the wonders of triplets in the crib.

Our study's findings align with the broader themes elucidated by Smith et al. (2015), implicitly acknowledging the potential impact of academic disciplines on fertility patterns. As is often the case with literary narratives, our investigation reveals layers of complexity within the seemingly straightforward juxtaposition of English degrees and triplet births, akin to the subtle plot twists woven into a masterful novel.

The visual portrayal of our findings in Figure 1 encapsulates the essence of our narrative – a tale of linguistic exploration and reproductive happenstance. The upward trend in the scatterplot mirrors the crescendo of a literary saga, where each data point contributes to the unfolding narrative of the association between academic accolades and the occurrence of multiples. In a delightful turn of events, the data itself becomes a protagonist in the saga of unexpected correlations.

Thus, as we conclude this phase of our inquiry, the interconnectedness of the mundane and the extraordinary beckons further exploration. The story of English degrees and triplet births, with its unforeseen twists and turns, urges us to delve deeper into the enigmatic relationship forged between the world of letters and the marvels of biology. The next chapter of this adventure promises to unravel more of the captivating secrets hidden within the annals of language and life's manifold wonders.

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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in English language and literature/letters and US birth rates of triplets or more. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
The Write Stuff: A Tale of Multiples – English Degrees and Triplet Birth Rates in the United States

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the intriguing relationship between the conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States. Utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the research team conducted a comprehensive analysis spanning the years 2012 to 2021. The results revealed a noteworthy correlation coefficient of 0.9693270 and a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust statistical association between these seemingly disparate phenomena. The implications of these findings provoke contemplation about the potential influence of the written word on the biological world, and may lead to further inquiries into the interplay between linguistic pursuits and reproductive outcomes. The study offers a whimsical yet thought-provoking perspective on the interconnectedness of academic disciplines and human experiences, providing fertile ground for future scholarly exploration.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters has long been associated with erudition, eloquence, and perhaps the occasional bout of existential pondering. Meanwhile, the birth of triplets or more in the United States is a phenomenon that often elicits awe and curiosity, along with a dash of bewilderment at the logistics of managing a trio of tiny humans. However, the potential connection between these two seemingly disparate realms – the world of literary linguistics and the realm of multiple offspring – has remained largely unexplored.
While numerous studies have investigated the influence of various factors on birth rates, from socioeconomic indicators to access to healthcare, the potential impact of English degrees on the incidence of triplet births has remained uncharted territory. The paucity of research in this area is somewhat surprising, given the rich history of fertility-related metaphors and idioms in the English language. From "the fruitful womb of his imagination" to "giving birth to new ideas," the link between language and procreation has, in a way, been hiding in plain sight.
Our research seeks to shed light on this enigmatic relationship, drawing from a decade of data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a statistical correlation coefficient that would make even the most stoic researcher raise an eyebrow – or perhaps even crack a smile – the findings of this study unveil a striking connection between the conferral of English degrees and the occurrence of triplets or more.
Through the lens of this unexpected correlation, our study endeavors to inject a touch of whimsy into the often austere world of scholarly inquiry. While the implications of these findings may initially appear lighthearted, they also beckon us to consider the potential influence of language – and the academic pursuits that revolve around it – on the biological phenomena that shape our world. As we embark on this unconventional academic escapade, we invite readers to join us in exploring the intersection of linguistic scholarship and the marvels of human fertility, and to indulge in a bit of scholarly mirth along the way.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of data spanning the years 2012 to 2021 revealed a striking correlation between the conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States. The correlation coefficient was found to be 0.9693270, with an r-squared value of 0.9395949 and a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a strong statistical relationship between these two seemingly unrelated variables.
Figure 1 depicts a scatterplot illustrating the robust correlation between the number of English degrees awarded and the incidence of triplet or higher-order births. The data points coalesce into a clear upward trend, akin to the rising action of a compelling narrative – albeit one that unfolds in the realm of birth statistics. The visual representation further underscores the noteworthy association between academic pursuits in English language and the occurrence of multiple births.
The implications of these findings add a curious twist to the tale of academic disciplines and human experiences. The connection between the written word and the phenomenon of multiple offspring invites reflection on the potential influence of linguistic pursuits on reproductive outcomes. This correlation inspires contemplation about the fertile intersection of literary exploration and biological phenomena, prompting future avenues of interdisciplinary inquiry.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

The findings of this study illuminate a captivating linkage between the conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States. The robust correlation coefficient and compelling visual depiction in Figure 1 underscore the unexpected association between these seemingly distinct domains. While the results may initially evoke a chuckle or a raised eyebrow, they also beckon us to consider the profound and often whimsical interplay between linguistic pursuits and biological marvels.

The potential impact of language on reproductive outcomes, as hinted at by this study, invites a whimsical yet contemplative exploration of the ways in which academic disciplines intertwine with the peculiarities of human existence. As we ponder the implications of these findings, we cannot help but be reminded of the adage, "The pen is mightier than the sword" – a statement that, in this context, takes on a whole new layer of meaning. The notion that the written word may wield influence over not only hearts and minds, but also biological phenomena, adds a delightful twist to our understanding of scholarly pursuits.

While the correlation uncovered in this study may seem improbable – much like the plot of an intriguing work of fiction – it offers a fertile ground for future scholarly inquiry. However, given the delightful and unexpected nature of the findings, it is with a wry smile and a nod to the enigmatic whims of academic exploration that we assert: no further research is needed in this domain.

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 The Write Stuff: A Tale of Multiples – English Degrees and Triplet Birth Rates in the United States. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Linguistic Multiplicity

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 The Write Stuff: A Tale of Multiples – English Degrees and Triplet Birth Rates in the United States. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Institute for Linguistic Studies and Statistical Oddities

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 The Write Stuff: A Tale of Multiples – English Degrees and Triplet Birth Rates in the United States with an abstract of This study delves into the intriguing relationship between the conferral of Bachelor's degrees in English language and literature/letters and the birth rates of triplets or more in the United States. Utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the research team conducted a comprehensive analysis spanning the years 2012 to 2021. The results revealed a noteworthy correlation coefficient of 0.9693270 and a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust statistical association between these seemingly disparate phenomena. The implications of these findings provoke contemplation about the potential influence of the written word on the biological world, and may lead to further inquiries into the interplay between linguistic pursuits and reproductive outcomes. The study offers a whimsical yet thought-provoking perspective on the interconnectedness of academic disciplines and human experiences, providing fertile ground for future scholarly exploration.

ChatGPT:

English degrees, literature degrees, English language degrees, Bachelor's degrees, birth rates, triplet birth rates, multiple birth rates, United States, National Center for Education Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, correlation coefficient, statistical association, linguistic pursuits, reproductive outcomes, academic disciplines, scholarly exploration, interplay, written word, biological world.

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

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Data details

Bachelor's degrees awarded in literature
Detailed data title: Bachelor's degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions, in field of study: English language and literature/letters
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
See what else correlates with Bachelor's degrees awarded in literature

US birth rates of triplets or more
Source: CDC
See what else correlates with US birth rates of triplets or more

Correlation r = 0.9693270 (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 = 0.9395949 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 94% of the change in the one variable (i.e., US birth rates of triplets or more) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Bachelor's degrees awarded in literature) over the 10 years from 2012 through 2021.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 3.7E-6.^Show 0.0000037318682192313025000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme.^Note 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 0.97 in 0.00037% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 267,962 random variables^Note You don't actually need 267 thousand variables to find a correlation like this one. I don't have that many variables in my database. You can also correlate variables that are not independent. I do this a lot.

p-value calculations are useful for understanding the probability of a result happening by chance. They are most useful when used to highlight the risk of a fluke outcome. For example, if you calculate a p-value of 0.30, the risk that the result is a fluke is high. It is good to know that! But there are lots of ways to get a p-value of less than 0.01, as evidenced by this project.

In this particular case, the values are so extreme as to be meaningless. That's why no one reports p-values with specificity after they drop below 0.01.

Just to be clear: I'm being completely transparent about the calculations. There is no math trickery. This is just how statistics shakes out when you calculate hundreds of millions of random correlations.
with the same 9 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 9 because we have two variables measured over a period of 10 years. It's just the number of years minus ( the number of variables minus one ), which in this case simplifies to the number of years minus one.
you would randomly expect to find a correlation as strong as this one.

[ 0.87, 0.99 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
^{Read more about the confidence interval} 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: ^Note 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.

	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Bachelor's degrees awarded in literature (Degrees awarded)	53765	52401	50464	45851	42797	41314	40002	39344	38049	35762
US birth rates of triplets or more (Birth rate per 100,000)	124.4	119.5	113.5	103.6	101.4	101.6	93	87.7	79.6	80

Why this works

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.
Lack of causal connection: There is probably^Note 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.
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^Note 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. ^{Show the steps to do this.} 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([53765,52401,50464,45851,42797,41314,40002,39344,38049,35762,])
array_2 = np.array([124.4,119.5,113.5,103.6,101.4,101.6,93,87.7,79.6,80,])
array_1_name = "Bachelor's degrees awarded in literature"
array_2_name = "US birth rates of triplets or more"

# 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)

Reuseable content

You may re-use the images on this page for any purpose, even commercial purposes, without asking for permission. The only requirement is that you attribute Tyler Vigen. ^Note Attribution can take many different forms. If you leave the "tylervigen.com" link in the image, that satisfies it just fine. If you remove it and move it to a footnote, that's fine too. You can also just write "Charts courtesy of Tyler Vigen" at the bottom of an article.

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.

Full license details.
For more on re-use permissions, or to get a signed release form, see tylervigen.com/permission.

Download images for these variables:

High resolution line chart ^Note The image linked here is a Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG). It is the highest resolution that is possible to achieve. It scales up beyond the size of the observable universe without pixelating. You do not need to email me asking if I have a higher resolution image. I do not. The physical limitations of our universe prevent me from providing you with an image that is any higher resolution than this one.

If you insert it into a PowerPoint presentation (a tool well-known for managing things that are the scale of the universe), you can right-click > "Ungroup" or "Create Shape" and then edit the lines and text directly. You can also change the colors this way.

Alternatively you can use a tool like Inkscape.
High resolution line chart, optimized for mobile
Alternative high resolution line chart
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Portable line chart (png)
Portable line chart (png), optimized for mobile
Line chart for only Bachelor's degrees awarded in literature
Line chart for only US birth rates of triplets or more
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: The Write Stuff: A Tale of Multiples – English Degrees and Triplet Birth Rates in the United States

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Correlation ID: 1475 · Black Variable ID: 1275 · Red Variable ID: 55


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