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Spurious correlation #1,581 · 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 Theology and religious vocations and the second variable is Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season.  The chart goes from 2012 to 2020, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
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AI explanation

As the number of theology and religious vocation degrees awarded dropped, there was a corresponding decline in divine intervention availability. This led to a decrease in Brees' passing attempts, as he could no longer count on heavenly Hail Mary passes to secure his throws. Without a direct line to the football gods, Brees had to rely on his earthly skills, ultimately impacting his performance on the field. It's a gridiron conundrum of biblical proportions!

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image that resembles a classic black-and-white newspaper illustration, depicting a graduation ceremony at an ornate cathedral. The scene should capture graduates receiving Bachelor's degrees in Theology and religious vocations. In the background, depict Drew Brees quarterbacking a football game, making precise passing attempts under the bright stadium lights. The illustration should emphasize the contrast between the solemn ceremony and the energetic football game playing out simultaneously. Each element should be distinct but seamlessly merged into a cohesive visual composition. 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 Theology and religious vocations and Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season. 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: An image that looks like it is a scene from 'Star Wars' Glitch art Brutalism An image that looks like it is a scene from A Disney Movie A black-and-white newspaper illustration
ChatGPT: A black-and-white newspaper illustration

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 Theology and religious vocations and Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season together. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: A graduation ceremony at a beautiful cathedral, where Bachelor's degrees in Theology and religious vocations are being awarded. In the background, Drew Brees is quarterbacking a football game, making precise passing attempts under the bright stadium lights.

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 black-and-white newspaper illustration ] and depicting this scene: A graduation ceremony at a beautiful cathedral, where Bachelor's degrees in Theology and religious vocations are being awarded. In the background, Drew Brees is quarterbacking a football game, making precise passing attempts under the bright stadium lights. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image that resembles a classic black-and-white newspaper illustration, depicting a graduation ceremony at an ornate cathedral. The scene should capture graduates receiving Bachelor's degrees in Theology and religious vocations. In the background, depict Drew Brees quarterbacking a football game, making precise passing attempts under the bright stadium lights. The illustration should emphasize the contrast between the solemn ceremony and the energetic football game playing out simultaneously. Each element should be distinct but seamlessly merged into a cohesive visual composition.

*Variations in the User Prompts from chart to chart are just the result of random number generation in Python. I wrote a few arrays of various styles and methods to ask questions to change up the results. Every time this site writes an explanation or generates an image, the script picks from each at random.

I sequence the requests into multiple prompts because I find GPT 3.5 to perform much better with short, well-managed contexts. Thus, I track the context directly in Python and only ask ChatGPT targeted questions.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how a decrease in Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations caused Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season to decrease.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts

The Journal of Divine Quarterback Studies

Jan 2024

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




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

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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

Your research team used data from National Center for Education Statistics and NFL to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.9785597 and p < 0.01 for 2012 to 2020.

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

[[TITLE]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit

[[ABSTRACT]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit



ChatGPT:
[[TITLE]]
A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this research study, we delve into the unexpected intersection of academia and athletics to explore the correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. These seemingly disparate domains have been the subject of widespread speculation and curiosity, and our findings shed a new light on their potential interplay.

As we navigated through the labyrinth of data, we encountered numerous statistically significant correlations, prompting us to say, "Holy statistical significance, Batman!" Our research team utilized data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the NFL, conducting a meticulous analysis from 2012 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, indicates a striking relationship between the number of theology degrees awarded and Drew Brees' passing attempts.

Through this unexpected juxtaposition, we aim to highlight the quirky and unpredictable nature of statistical analysis and the delightful surprises that emerge when we explore uncharted territories. After all, who would have thought that the number of theology degrees could be linked to Brees' passes? It seems the only thing "sacred" in this relationship is the correlation coefficient!

Stay tuned for an enlightening journey that promises to bring together the holy and the gridiron, uncovering a statistical connection that is as divine as it is unexpected.


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

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this research study, we delve into the unexpected intersection of academia and athletics to explore the correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. These seemingly disparate domains have been the subject of widespread speculation and curiosity, and our findings shed a new light on their potential interplay.

As we navigated through the labyrinth of data, we encountered numerous statistically significant correlations, prompting us to say, "Holy statistical significance, Batman!" Our research team utilized data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the NFL, conducting a meticulous analysis from 2012 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, indicates a striking relationship between the number of theology degrees awarded and Drew Brees' passing attempts.

Through this unexpected juxtaposition, we aim to highlight the quirky and unpredictable nature of statistical analysis and the delightful surprises that emerge when we explore uncharted territories. After all, who would have thought that the number of theology degrees could be linked to Brees' passes? It seems the only thing "sacred" in this relationship is the correlation coefficient!

Stay tuned for an enlightening journey that promises to bring together the holy and the gridiron, uncovering a statistical connection that is as divine as it is unexpected.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

The intersection of academia and athletics has long captivated the imagination of researchers and sports enthusiasts alike. Few could have predicted the curious correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. It's almost as surprising as finding a priest at a football game, or, dare I say, a "hail Mary" in the playbook!

The revelation of this unexpected connection prompted us to embark on a statistical odyssey, akin to a theological quest for the Holy Grail, to unravel the mystery behind this peculiar relationship. As we delved into the data, we found ourselves pondering the question: "What do theology degrees and Drew Brees' passes have in common?" It turns out, quite a bit, it seems!

Our research, though rooted in statistical analysis, is not devoid of whimsy. In our journey through the data, we encountered more correlations than a matchmaker at a speed-dating event. Who knew that theology and touchdowns could go hand in hand? It's enough to make one exclaim, "Holy touchdowns, Batman!"

By examining the correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, we were struck by the remarkable relationship between theology degrees and Brees' passing attempts. It seems that the number of scholars studying the divine has a direct impact on the number of passes thrown by the gridiron maestro, Drew Brees.

As we navigate this uncharted terrain, we invite readers to join us in this revelatory expedition where sacred and sport intertwine in ways previously unimagined. With a statistical connection as divine as this, we are reminded that the unpredictable nature of data analysis can yield surprising and, dare I say, miraculous discoveries.

In the words of Drew Brees himself, "Pass the ball and the collection plate," for we are about to embark on a journey that is as enlightening as it is delightfully unexpected.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.You draft 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 Theology and religious vocations and Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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]]
A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this research study, we delve into the unexpected intersection of academia and athletics to explore the correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. These seemingly disparate domains have been the subject of widespread speculation and curiosity, and our findings shed a new light on their potential interplay.

As we navigated through the labyrinth of data, we encountered numerous statistically significant correlations, prompting us to say, "Holy statistical significance, Batman!" Our research team utilized data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the NFL, conducting a meticulous analysis from 2012 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, indicates a striking relationship between the number of theology degrees awarded and Drew Brees' passing attempts.

Through this unexpected juxtaposition, we aim to highlight the quirky and unpredictable nature of statistical analysis and the delightful surprises that emerge when we explore uncharted territories. After all, who would have thought that the number of theology degrees could be linked to Brees' passes? It seems the only thing "sacred" in this relationship is the correlation coefficient!

Stay tuned for an enlightening journey that promises to bring together the holy and the gridiron, uncovering a statistical connection that is as divine as it is unexpected.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The intersection of academia and athletics has long captivated the imagination of researchers and sports enthusiasts alike. Few could have predicted the curious correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. It's almost as surprising as finding a priest at a football game, or, dare I say, a "hail Mary" in the playbook!
The revelation of this unexpected connection prompted us to embark on a statistical odyssey, akin to a theological quest for the Holy Grail, to unravel the mystery behind this peculiar relationship. As we delved into the data, we found ourselves pondering the question: "What do theology degrees and Drew Brees' passes have in common?" It turns out, quite a bit, it seems!
Our research, though rooted in statistical analysis, is not devoid of whimsy. In our journey through the data, we encountered more correlations than a matchmaker at a speed-dating event. Who knew that theology and touchdowns could go hand in hand? It's enough to make one exclaim, "Holy touchdowns, Batman!"
By examining the correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, we were struck by the remarkable relationship between theology degrees and Brees' passing attempts. It seems that the number of scholars studying the divine has a direct impact on the number of passes thrown by the gridiron maestro, Drew Brees.
As we navigate this uncharted terrain, we invite readers to join us in this revelatory expedition where sacred and sport intertwine in ways previously unimagined. With a statistical connection as divine as this, we are reminded that the unpredictable nature of data analysis can yield surprising and, dare I say, miraculous discoveries.
In the words of Drew Brees himself, "Pass the ball and the collection plate," for we are about to embark on a journey that is as enlightening as it is delightfully unexpected.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

In their study, Smith and Doe (2015) explore the trend of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the impact on religious vocations. The authors find a positive correlation between the number of theology degrees and an increase in individuals pursuing religious vocations. This correlation sheds light on the influence of higher education in nurturing religious vocations and inspiring individuals to embrace the spiritual calling.

Now, let's pivot from the sacred to the sporty. In "Touchdowns and Theology" by Dr. John Gridiron, the author discusses the unforeseen connection between theological studies and success in professional sports. However, Dr. Gridiron's work does not delve into the specific correlation with Drew Brees' passing attempts, leaving this peculiar relationship ripe for investigation.

Speaking of peculiar, let's not forget the classic fiction novel "The Divine Quarterback" by J.K. Punting. While this work may fall into the realm of imaginative storytelling, the juxtaposition of divine intervention and athletic prowess is sure to tickle the fancy of our readers.

In "Holy Gridiron: How Theology Shapes Athletic Achievement" by Sister Sally Stride, the unexpected intersection of religious studies and athletic performance is explored in depth. The author presents compelling evidence suggesting that theological pursuits may have a profound impact on athletic achievements, including the precision of an elite quarterback's passing game. Who would have thought that a Theology degree could be the secret ingredient to a Hail Mary pass?

Moving on from academic literature, our research journey led us to unexpected sources of insight. "The Adventures of Holy Quarterback," a popular children's cartoon, may not be the typical source of scholarly information, but the protagonist's divine sporting abilities offer a whimsical portrayal of the theological-athletic connection. Additionally, "The Holy Touchdown Show," a beloved children's program, playfully explores the theme of divine intervention in sports, providing a lighthearted perspective on the intersection of theology and athleticism.

It appears that our research has taken us on a journey through serious academic works, fictional narratives, and even children's entertainment in our quest to unravel the divine connection between theology degrees and Drew Brees' passing attempts. Despite the lighthearted detours, we remain committed to shedding light on the unexpected correlation that has captured both our academic curiosity and sense of humor. After all, in the realm of statistical analysis, who said we can't have a touchdown and a laugh at the same time?


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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from National Center for Education Statistics and NFL . You used data from 2012 to 2020

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

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this research study, we delve into the unexpected intersection of academia and athletics to explore the correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. These seemingly disparate domains have been the subject of widespread speculation and curiosity, and our findings shed a new light on their potential interplay.

As we navigated through the labyrinth of data, we encountered numerous statistically significant correlations, prompting us to say, "Holy statistical significance, Batman!" Our research team utilized data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the NFL, conducting a meticulous analysis from 2012 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, indicates a striking relationship between the number of theology degrees awarded and Drew Brees' passing attempts.

Through this unexpected juxtaposition, we aim to highlight the quirky and unpredictable nature of statistical analysis and the delightful surprises that emerge when we explore uncharted territories. After all, who would have thought that the number of theology degrees could be linked to Brees' passes? It seems the only thing "sacred" in this relationship is the correlation coefficient!

Stay tuned for an enlightening journey that promises to bring together the holy and the gridiron, uncovering a statistical connection that is as divine as it is unexpected.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The intersection of academia and athletics has long captivated the imagination of researchers and sports enthusiasts alike. Few could have predicted the curious correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. It's almost as surprising as finding a priest at a football game, or, dare I say, a "hail Mary" in the playbook!
The revelation of this unexpected connection prompted us to embark on a statistical odyssey, akin to a theological quest for the Holy Grail, to unravel the mystery behind this peculiar relationship. As we delved into the data, we found ourselves pondering the question: "What do theology degrees and Drew Brees' passes have in common?" It turns out, quite a bit, it seems!
Our research, though rooted in statistical analysis, is not devoid of whimsy. In our journey through the data, we encountered more correlations than a matchmaker at a speed-dating event. Who knew that theology and touchdowns could go hand in hand? It's enough to make one exclaim, "Holy touchdowns, Batman!"
By examining the correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, we were struck by the remarkable relationship between theology degrees and Brees' passing attempts. It seems that the number of scholars studying the divine has a direct impact on the number of passes thrown by the gridiron maestro, Drew Brees.
As we navigate this uncharted terrain, we invite readers to join us in this revelatory expedition where sacred and sport intertwine in ways previously unimagined. With a statistical connection as divine as this, we are reminded that the unpredictable nature of data analysis can yield surprising and, dare I say, miraculous discoveries.
In the words of Drew Brees himself, "Pass the ball and the collection plate," for we are about to embark on a journey that is as enlightening as it is delightfully unexpected.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

In this study, we employed a methodological approach that would make even the most seasoned statisticians raise an eyebrow. Our data collection process resembled a game of theological "Where's Waldo," as we scoured the National Center for Education Statistics and the NFL databases for relevant metrics. We also had to navigate through a maze of websites, piecing together information like a statistical detective. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except the needle was a theology degree and the haystack was the entire internet.

To measure the association between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Drew Brees' passing attempts, we utilized a variety of statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation coefficients, multiple regression models, and a hearty dose of good old-fashioned data wrangling. It was like a mathematical treasure hunt, except the treasure was a statistically significant relationship and the map was filled with numbers and spreadsheets.

After wrangling our data like a cowboy herding cattle, we meticulously cleaned and pre-processed the information to ensure that our analysis was as robust as Drew Brees' passing game. We also performed sensitivity analyses to confirm the reliability of our findings, ensuring that our results were as reliable as a quarterback's pre-game ritual.

To verify the statistical significance of our findings, we conducted hypothesis testing using a two-tailed t-test, scrutinizing our results with the same level of intensity as a referee reviewing a potential touchdown. And just like a quarterback audibles at the line of scrimmage, we adjusted our statistical models to account for various confounding variables, ensuring our conclusions were as accurate as a precision pass from Brees himself.

It's safe to say that our methodology was as thorough as a theological debate and as intricate as a touchdown play diagram. We left no statistical stone unturned in our quest to unravel this peculiar connection between theology degrees and the passing prowess of Drew Brees.

Dad Joke Alert: Why did the statistician bring a ladder to the football game? Because he wanted to see more Drew Brees passing attempts from a higher level of significance!


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

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from National Center for Education Statistics and NFL .

For the time period 2012 to 2020, you found a correlation 0.9785597, r-squared of 0.9575791, 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]]
A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this research study, we delve into the unexpected intersection of academia and athletics to explore the correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. These seemingly disparate domains have been the subject of widespread speculation and curiosity, and our findings shed a new light on their potential interplay.

As we navigated through the labyrinth of data, we encountered numerous statistically significant correlations, prompting us to say, "Holy statistical significance, Batman!" Our research team utilized data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the NFL, conducting a meticulous analysis from 2012 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, indicates a striking relationship between the number of theology degrees awarded and Drew Brees' passing attempts.

Through this unexpected juxtaposition, we aim to highlight the quirky and unpredictable nature of statistical analysis and the delightful surprises that emerge when we explore uncharted territories. After all, who would have thought that the number of theology degrees could be linked to Brees' passes? It seems the only thing "sacred" in this relationship is the correlation coefficient!

Stay tuned for an enlightening journey that promises to bring together the holy and the gridiron, uncovering a statistical connection that is as divine as it is unexpected.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
The intersection of academia and athletics has long captivated the imagination of researchers and sports enthusiasts alike. Few could have predicted the curious correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. It's almost as surprising as finding a priest at a football game, or, dare I say, a "hail Mary" in the playbook!
The revelation of this unexpected connection prompted us to embark on a statistical odyssey, akin to a theological quest for the Holy Grail, to unravel the mystery behind this peculiar relationship. As we delved into the data, we found ourselves pondering the question: "What do theology degrees and Drew Brees' passes have in common?" It turns out, quite a bit, it seems!
Our research, though rooted in statistical analysis, is not devoid of whimsy. In our journey through the data, we encountered more correlations than a matchmaker at a speed-dating event. Who knew that theology and touchdowns could go hand in hand? It's enough to make one exclaim, "Holy touchdowns, Batman!"
By examining the correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, we were struck by the remarkable relationship between theology degrees and Brees' passing attempts. It seems that the number of scholars studying the divine has a direct impact on the number of passes thrown by the gridiron maestro, Drew Brees.
As we navigate this uncharted terrain, we invite readers to join us in this revelatory expedition where sacred and sport intertwine in ways previously unimagined. With a statistical connection as divine as this, we are reminded that the unpredictable nature of data analysis can yield surprising and, dare I say, miraculous discoveries.
In the words of Drew Brees himself, "Pass the ball and the collection plate," for we are about to embark on a journey that is as enlightening as it is delightfully unexpected.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The scintillating journey through our data has culminated in the revelation of a robust correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Drew Brees' passing attempts per NFL season. It appears that the divine and the pigskin have found an unlikely union, much like a quarterback and an ecclesiastical scholar walk into a bar – the beginning of a statistical love story.

With a correlation coefficient of 0.9785597 and an r-squared value of 0.9575791, our findings support a remarkably strong relationship between these seemingly unrelated variables. This connection is as unmistakable as Drew Brees' pre-snap gestures on the field, or shall we say, as unmistakable as a "Hail Mary" pass in the fourth quarter.

The p-value of less than 0.01 further corroborates the significance of this relationship, leaving us in awe of the unexpected threads that weave through the tapestry of data. It seems that the only thing more divine than a theological discourse is the statistical evidence of this correlation.

As Fig. 1 illustrates, the scatterplot demonstrates the unmistakable pattern of the increasing number of theology degrees awarded aligning with a surge in Drew Brees' passing attempts. It's as if every degree bestowed translated into a prayerful plea for another touchdown, a statistical phenomenon as surreal as a touchdown being caught with a prayer.

These findings open the door to a new realm of inquiry and reflection, where the sacred and the sport intertwine in unprecedented ways. As we unravel this statistical enigma, we are reminded that there are playful surprises waiting to be discovered, even in the most unexpected correlations – a bit like finding a theological revelation in a football game or, dare we say, a "punter" studying theology.

The unanticipated linkage between theology degrees and Drew Brees' passing attempts invites further exploration and prompts us to embrace the whimsicality of this statistical adventure. With a wink to the heavens and a nod to the end zone, we embark on this journey with a sense of curiosity and humor, for it seems that statistical vaudeville has found its way onto the gridiron of academia and athletics.


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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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]]
A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this research study, we delve into the unexpected intersection of academia and athletics to explore the correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. These seemingly disparate domains have been the subject of widespread speculation and curiosity, and our findings shed a new light on their potential interplay.

As we navigated through the labyrinth of data, we encountered numerous statistically significant correlations, prompting us to say, "Holy statistical significance, Batman!" Our research team utilized data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the NFL, conducting a meticulous analysis from 2012 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, indicates a striking relationship between the number of theology degrees awarded and Drew Brees' passing attempts.

Through this unexpected juxtaposition, we aim to highlight the quirky and unpredictable nature of statistical analysis and the delightful surprises that emerge when we explore uncharted territories. After all, who would have thought that the number of theology degrees could be linked to Brees' passes? It seems the only thing "sacred" in this relationship is the correlation coefficient!

Stay tuned for an enlightening journey that promises to bring together the holy and the gridiron, uncovering a statistical connection that is as divine as it is unexpected.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
In their study, Smith and Doe (2015) explore the trend of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the impact on religious vocations. The authors find a positive correlation between the number of theology degrees and an increase in individuals pursuing religious vocations. This correlation sheds light on the influence of higher education in nurturing religious vocations and inspiring individuals to embrace the spiritual calling.
Now, let's pivot from the sacred to the sporty. In "Touchdowns and Theology" by Dr. John Gridiron, the author discusses the unforeseen connection between theological studies and success in professional sports. However, Dr. Gridiron's work does not delve into the specific correlation with Drew Brees' passing attempts, leaving this peculiar relationship ripe for investigation.
Speaking of peculiar, let's not forget the classic fiction novel "The Divine Quarterback" by J.K. Punting. While this work may fall into the realm of imaginative storytelling, the juxtaposition of divine intervention and athletic prowess is sure to tickle the fancy of our readers.
In "Holy Gridiron: How Theology Shapes Athletic Achievement" by Sister Sally Stride, the unexpected intersection of religious studies and athletic performance is explored in depth. The author presents compelling evidence suggesting that theological pursuits may have a profound impact on athletic achievements, including the precision of an elite quarterback's passing game. Who would have thought that a Theology degree could be the secret ingredient to a Hail Mary pass?
Moving on from academic literature, our research journey led us to unexpected sources of insight. "The Adventures of Holy Quarterback," a popular children's cartoon, may not be the typical source of scholarly information, but the protagonist's divine sporting abilities offer a whimsical portrayal of the theological-athletic connection. Additionally, "The Holy Touchdown Show," a beloved children's program, playfully explores the theme of divine intervention in sports, providing a lighthearted perspective on the intersection of theology and athleticism.
It appears that our research has taken us on a journey through serious academic works, fictional narratives, and even children's entertainment in our quest to unravel the divine connection between theology degrees and Drew Brees' passing attempts. Despite the lighthearted detours, we remain committed to shedding light on the unexpected correlation that has captured both our academic curiosity and sense of humor. After all, in the realm of statistical analysis, who said we can't have a touchdown and a laugh at the same time?

[[RESULTS]]
The scintillating journey through our data has culminated in the revelation of a robust correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Drew Brees' passing attempts per NFL season. It appears that the divine and the pigskin have found an unlikely union, much like a quarterback and an ecclesiastical scholar walk into a bar – the beginning of a statistical love story.
With a correlation coefficient of 0.9785597 and an r-squared value of 0.9575791, our findings support a remarkably strong relationship between these seemingly unrelated variables. This connection is as unmistakable as Drew Brees' pre-snap gestures on the field, or shall we say, as unmistakable as a "Hail Mary" pass in the fourth quarter.
The p-value of less than 0.01 further corroborates the significance of this relationship, leaving us in awe of the unexpected threads that weave through the tapestry of data. It seems that the only thing more divine than a theological discourse is the statistical evidence of this correlation.
As Fig. 1 illustrates, the scatterplot demonstrates the unmistakable pattern of the increasing number of theology degrees awarded aligning with a surge in Drew Brees' passing attempts. It's as if every degree bestowed translated into a prayerful plea for another touchdown, a statistical phenomenon as surreal as a touchdown being caught with a prayer.
These findings open the door to a new realm of inquiry and reflection, where the sacred and the sport intertwine in unprecedented ways. As we unravel this statistical enigma, we are reminded that there are playful surprises waiting to be discovered, even in the most unexpected correlations – a bit like finding a theological revelation in a football game or, dare we say, a "punter" studying theology.
The unanticipated linkage between theology degrees and Drew Brees' passing attempts invites further exploration and prompts us to embrace the whimsicality of this statistical adventure. With a wink to the heavens and a nod to the end zone, we embark on this journey with a sense of curiosity and humor, for it seems that statistical vaudeville has found its way onto the gridiron of academia and athletics.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

Our research has unveiled a most divine relationship: the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations holds a striking connection with Drew Brees' passing attempts per NFL season. It seems the only thing more unexpected than this correlation is the realization that the "holy quarterback" might have more than just football on his mind during those critical plays.

Building on the findings of Smith and Doe (2015), our results not only support but amplify the positive correlation between the awarding of theology degrees and an increase in individuals pursuing religious vocations. It appears that the influence of higher education extends even to the gridiron, guiding Brees to embark on passing quests each season that mirror the spiritual odysseys of theological scholars. As it turns out, the pursuit of heavenly connections may transcend the confines of academic theology and reach into the realm of competitive sports – talk about a "Hail Mary" pass!

Echoing the work of Dr. John Gridiron, our research indeed fills the gap left by prior studies, by uncovering the specific correlation between theology degrees and Brees' passing attempts. This peculiar revelation invites a whimsical reflection on the interplay between academic pursuits and athletic achievements. It seems that Dr. Gridiron was onto something – perhaps there's a secret playbook hidden within the sacred texts that inspires Brees to launch those awe-inspiring passes.

Our findings also bear semblance to the works of Sister Sally Stride, who explored the profound impact of theological pursuits on athletic achievements. The unexpected intersection she highlighted is now further illuminated by the statistical evidence unveiled in our study. It's as if the pursuit of theological knowledge acts as a divine catalyst for Brees' successful passes, turning the gridiron into a holy arena for intellectual and athletic prowess to collide.

As for our unexpected sources of insight, "The Adventures of Holy Quarterback" and "The Holy Touchdown Show" ended up offering a playful foreshadowing of the statistical connection we've revealed. The children's narratives may have been lighthearted, but in hindsight, they served as the whimsical heralds of our scholarly revelation – a bit like discovering a theological interpretation of a touchdown dance.

Our research has demonstrated a robust statistical relationship between the number of theology degrees and Brees' passing attempts, reinforcing the unexpected connection that has captivated both our academic curiosity and sense of humor. Upon reflection, it appears that statistical vaudeville has indeed found its way onto the gridiron of academia and athletics – and it's a touchdown of a discovery!

Now, it's time to pass the torch onto future researchers and statisticians, encouraging them to embark on their own quest to uncover the serendipitous connections that lurk beneath the surface of seemingly unrelated variables. It seems the only thing left for us to do is to throw in a good old dad joke related to quarterbacks and academia: What do quarterbacks and students have in common? They both aim for higher degrees!


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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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]]
A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this research study, we delve into the unexpected intersection of academia and athletics to explore the correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. These seemingly disparate domains have been the subject of widespread speculation and curiosity, and our findings shed a new light on their potential interplay.

As we navigated through the labyrinth of data, we encountered numerous statistically significant correlations, prompting us to say, "Holy statistical significance, Batman!" Our research team utilized data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the NFL, conducting a meticulous analysis from 2012 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, indicates a striking relationship between the number of theology degrees awarded and Drew Brees' passing attempts.

Through this unexpected juxtaposition, we aim to highlight the quirky and unpredictable nature of statistical analysis and the delightful surprises that emerge when we explore uncharted territories. After all, who would have thought that the number of theology degrees could be linked to Brees' passes? It seems the only thing "sacred" in this relationship is the correlation coefficient!

Stay tuned for an enlightening journey that promises to bring together the holy and the gridiron, uncovering a statistical connection that is as divine as it is unexpected.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The intersection of academia and athletics has long captivated the imagination of researchers and sports enthusiasts alike. Few could have predicted the curious correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. It's almost as surprising as finding a priest at a football game, or, dare I say, a "hail Mary" in the playbook!
The revelation of this unexpected connection prompted us to embark on a statistical odyssey, akin to a theological quest for the Holy Grail, to unravel the mystery behind this peculiar relationship. As we delved into the data, we found ourselves pondering the question: "What do theology degrees and Drew Brees' passes have in common?" It turns out, quite a bit, it seems!
Our research, though rooted in statistical analysis, is not devoid of whimsy. In our journey through the data, we encountered more correlations than a matchmaker at a speed-dating event. Who knew that theology and touchdowns could go hand in hand? It's enough to make one exclaim, "Holy touchdowns, Batman!"
By examining the correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, we were struck by the remarkable relationship between theology degrees and Brees' passing attempts. It seems that the number of scholars studying the divine has a direct impact on the number of passes thrown by the gridiron maestro, Drew Brees.
As we navigate this uncharted terrain, we invite readers to join us in this revelatory expedition where sacred and sport intertwine in ways previously unimagined. With a statistical connection as divine as this, we are reminded that the unpredictable nature of data analysis can yield surprising and, dare I say, miraculous discoveries.
In the words of Drew Brees himself, "Pass the ball and the collection plate," for we are about to embark on a journey that is as enlightening as it is delightfully unexpected.

[[RESULTS]]
The scintillating journey through our data has culminated in the revelation of a robust correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Drew Brees' passing attempts per NFL season. It appears that the divine and the pigskin have found an unlikely union, much like a quarterback and an ecclesiastical scholar walk into a bar – the beginning of a statistical love story.
With a correlation coefficient of 0.9785597 and an r-squared value of 0.9575791, our findings support a remarkably strong relationship between these seemingly unrelated variables. This connection is as unmistakable as Drew Brees' pre-snap gestures on the field, or shall we say, as unmistakable as a "Hail Mary" pass in the fourth quarter.
The p-value of less than 0.01 further corroborates the significance of this relationship, leaving us in awe of the unexpected threads that weave through the tapestry of data. It seems that the only thing more divine than a theological discourse is the statistical evidence of this correlation.
As Fig. 1 illustrates, the scatterplot demonstrates the unmistakable pattern of the increasing number of theology degrees awarded aligning with a surge in Drew Brees' passing attempts. It's as if every degree bestowed translated into a prayerful plea for another touchdown, a statistical phenomenon as surreal as a touchdown being caught with a prayer.
These findings open the door to a new realm of inquiry and reflection, where the sacred and the sport intertwine in unprecedented ways. As we unravel this statistical enigma, we are reminded that there are playful surprises waiting to be discovered, even in the most unexpected correlations – a bit like finding a theological revelation in a football game or, dare we say, a "punter" studying theology.
The unanticipated linkage between theology degrees and Drew Brees' passing attempts invites further exploration and prompts us to embrace the whimsicality of this statistical adventure. With a wink to the heavens and a nod to the end zone, we embark on this journey with a sense of curiosity and humor, for it seems that statistical vaudeville has found its way onto the gridiron of academia and athletics.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our research has unveiled a remarkable correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and Drew Brees' passing attempts per NFL season. It appears that the spiritual and the athletic have intertwined in a manner that is as surprising as a touchdown pass in the final seconds – a true "Hail Mary" moment, if you will!

Our findings not only support the existence of this connection but also highlight the playful and whimsical side of statistical analysis, reminding us that even the most unexpected correlations can reveal delightful surprises. It's like finding a joke book in a library – you never know when you'll stumble upon a statistical punchline!

The correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, akin to a rock-solid offensive line, and a p-value of less than 0.01, just reinforce the strength of this relationship. The evidence of this statistical connection is as clear as a sunny day in the Superdome, or shall we say, as clear as a crystal chalice!

Our data has not only shown us a surprising linkage between theology degrees and Brees' passes but also calls for a moment of statistical reflection and wonder. Much like a preacher delivering a sermon to an eager congregation, this statistical revelation beckons us to embrace the uncharted territory of unexpected correlations and revel in the marvels it presents.

As for any future research in this area, we boldly proclaim, "No more divine intervention needed here!" The evidence has spoken, and it seems that the connection between theology degrees and Drew Brees' passing attempts is as solid as a church pew. It's time to take these findings and run with them, or shall we say, "pass" them on to the next curious statistician!

And with that, we conclude that our journey through the statistical halls of theology and touchdowns has left us with an enlightening and amusing tale that, much like a well-timed dad joke, brings joy and wonder to this remarkable intersection of academia and athletics.


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 A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Divine Quarterback Studies


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of nonprofit research organizations and associations. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding nonprofit, academic, or scientific association or organization that would sponsor research that resulted in a paper entited A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Society for Theological Touchdowns


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 A Holy Hail Mary: Unveiling the Divine Connection Between Theology Degrees and Drew Brees' Passing Attempts with an abstract of In this research study, we delve into the unexpected intersection of academia and athletics to explore the correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations and the passing attempts made by Drew Brees per NFL season. These seemingly disparate domains have been the subject of widespread speculation and curiosity, and our findings shed a new light on their potential interplay.
As we navigated through the labyrinth of data, we encountered numerous statistically significant correlations, prompting us to say, "Holy statistical significance, Batman!" Our research team utilized data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the NFL, conducting a meticulous analysis from 2012 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9785597, with p < 0.01, indicates a striking relationship between the number of theology degrees awarded and Drew Brees' passing attempts.
Through this unexpected juxtaposition, we aim to highlight the quirky and unpredictable nature of statistical analysis and the delightful surprises that emerge when we explore uncharted territories. After all, who would have thought that the number of theology degrees could be linked to Brees' passes? It seems the only thing "sacred" in this relationship is the correlation coefficient!
Stay tuned for an enlightening journey that promises to bring together the holy and the gridiron, uncovering a statistical connection that is as divine as it is unexpected.

ChatGPT:

Theology degrees, religious vocations, Drew Brees, passing attempts, NFL season, correlation, academia, athletics, statistical analysis, National Center for Education Statistics, NFL data, correlation coefficient, unexpected connections.

*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 Theology and religious vocations
Detailed data title: Bachelor's degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions, in field of study: Theology and religious vocations
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
See what else correlates with Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations

Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season
Source: NFL
See what else correlates with Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season

Correlation r = 0.9785597 (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 = 0.9575791 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 95.8% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations) over the 9 years from 2012 through 2020.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 4.7E-6. 0.0000046532703549094515000000
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 0.98 in 0.00047% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 214,903 random variables You don't actually need 214 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 8 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 8 because we have two variables measured over a period of 9 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.

[ 0.9, 1 ] 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.
201220132014201520162017201820192020
Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations (Degrees awarded)784578397865785978267489725270616855
Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season (Pasing attempts)670650659627673536489378390




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. Very low n: There are not many data points included in this analysis. Even if the p-value is high, we should be suspicious of using so few datapoints in a correlation.
  5. Y-axis doesn't start at zero: I truncated the Y-axes of the graph above. I also used a line graph, which makes the visual connection stand out more than it deserves. Nothing against line graphs. They are great at telling a story when you have linear data! But visually it is deceptive because the only data is at the points on the graph, not the lines on the graph. In between each point, the data could have been doing anything. Like going for a random walk by itself!
    Mathematically what I showed is true, but it is intentionally misleading. Below is the same chart but with both Y-axes starting at zero.




Try it yourself

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([7845,7839,7865,7859,7826,7489,7252,7061,6855,])
array_2 = np.array([670,650,659,627,673,536,489,378,390,])
array_1_name = "Bachelor's degrees awarded in Theology and religious vocations"
array_2_name = "Passing attempts by Drew Brees per NFL season"

# 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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Correlation ID: 1581 · Black Variable ID: 1293 · Red Variable ID: 207
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