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Spurious correlation #2,022 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Air pollution in Houston and the second variable is Viewership count for Days of Our Lives.  The chart goes from 1980 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

As the air cleared up, the days of our smoggy lives were over, and Houstonians found themselves with a breath of fresh air. They must have been too busy enjoying the pollution-free outdoors to tune in to the drama on TV!

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a cityscape in Houston with a 1960s comic-book-style illustration. The sun is partially obscured by a hazy layer of pollution, casting an orange glow over the skyscrapers. In the foreground, depict a few muted-colored living rooms with viewers watching a TV drama, depicting the musty air and the subdued ambiance of the scene. 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: Poor air quality in Houston and Viewership count for Days of Our Lives. 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: A comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s Hyper-realistic An image that looks like it is a scene from 'Star Wars' Scalar art An image that looks like it is a scene from A Disney Movie
ChatGPT: A comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated. You combine both variables into one scene.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that prominently depicts both Poor air quality in Houston and Viewership count for Days of Our Lives together. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In Houston, the sun struggles to shine through a hazy layer of pollution, casting an orange glow over the city. Meanwhile, inside living rooms, the air smells musty as viewers settle in to watch the latest drama unfold on Days of Our Lives.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You write and improve image generation prompts for DALLE-3. You maintain the same subjects, but enhance the visuals.
User prompt: Please respond with an image generation prompt that would be likely to create an interesting visual using DALLE-3, using the following style: [ A comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s ] and depicting this scene: In Houston, the sun struggles to shine through a hazy layer of pollution, casting an orange glow over the city. Meanwhile, inside living rooms, the air smells musty as viewers settle in to watch the latest drama unfold on Days of Our Lives. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a cityscape in Houston with a 1960s comic-book-style illustration. The sun is partially obscured by a hazy layer of pollution, casting an orange glow over the skyscrapers. In the foreground, depict a few muted-colored living rooms with viewers watching a TV drama, depicting the musty air and the subdued ambiance of the scene.

*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 Air pollution in Houston caused Viewership count for Days of Our Lives to decrease. Include one good pun.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives

The Journal of Eclectic Environmental Sociology

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

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Houston and Viewership count for Days of Our Lives. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Rhyme words in the title.

Your research team used data from Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and p < 0.01 for 1980 to 2021.

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

[[TITLE]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit

[[ABSTRACT]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit



ChatGPT:
[[TITLE]]
Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we explored the surprising connection between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. Through rigorous data analysis, we unearthed a striking relationship that not only raised eyebrows but also left us soapy-eyed with wonder. Leveraging the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our team calculated a correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. Our findings could explain why the citizens of Houston have a penchant for turning to daytime dramas as a means of escape from the city's smoggy reality. Our research sheds light on the curious intertwining of environmental factors and television entertainment, proving that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot thickens.


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

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Houston and Viewership count for Days of Our Lives. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we explored the surprising connection between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. Through rigorous data analysis, we unearthed a striking relationship that not only raised eyebrows but also left us soapy-eyed with wonder. Leveraging the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our team calculated a correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. Our findings could explain why the citizens of Houston have a penchant for turning to daytime dramas as a means of escape from the city's smoggy reality. Our research sheds light on the curious intertwining of environmental factors and television entertainment, proving that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot thickens.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

The whimsical world of academic research often presents us with unexpected connections and peculiar phenomena. In this study, we set out to explore the enthralling relationship between two seemingly disparate entities: air pollution in the bustling metropolis of Houston and the viewership count for the enduring soap opera, Days of Our Lives. While at first glance these two topics may appear as mismatched as mismatched socks, our investigation has exposed a captivating correlation that even the most seasoned soap opera scriptwriter might find hard to believe.

Houston, with its sprawling urban landscape and lively cultural scene, has long been the focal point of environmental discourse due to its notorious smoggy reputation. Conversely, Days of Our Lives, the daytime drama revered for its timeless tales of love, betrayal, and intrigue, has amassed a dedicated following spanning multiple generations. Never in a million episodes would one have anticipated that these two seemingly unrelated entities could share an unseen bond. Yet, as we delved into the depths of data analysis, we uncovered a narrative as compelling as any daytime soap plot twist.

Armed with data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our research team embarked on a mission to analyze three decades' worth of information. The statistical revelations we unearthed left us not only scratching our heads but also admiring the serendipitous dance between air quality and soap opera fascination. Our analysis yielded a staggering correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. These numbers not only raised eyebrows but also colored our findings with a dramatic flair fit for a primetime television melodrama.

The implications of our findings extend beyond the sheer amusement of discovering this unlikely correlation. Our research could shed light on why Houstonians turn to the world of Days of Our Lives as an escape from the city's snooty smog and atmospheric dramatizations. By probing this unusual pairing of environmental factors and television entertainment, we hope to capture the imagination of our colleagues and spark further investigations into the uncharted territories where science and soap operas collide.

In delving into this unorthodox correlation, we are reminded that reality often surpasses fiction, and that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot indeed thickens. With this study, we invite our esteemed peers to suspend disbelief and join us in unearthing the quirks and curiosities that make the world of research a beguiling and, at times, whimsical endeavor.


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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Houston and Viewership count for Days of Our Lives. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Then devolve ever further, and mention something completely ridiculous, like you conducted literature review by reading CVS receipts.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we explored the surprising connection between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. Through rigorous data analysis, we unearthed a striking relationship that not only raised eyebrows but also left us soapy-eyed with wonder. Leveraging the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our team calculated a correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. Our findings could explain why the citizens of Houston have a penchant for turning to daytime dramas as a means of escape from the city's smoggy reality. Our research sheds light on the curious intertwining of environmental factors and television entertainment, proving that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot thickens.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The whimsical world of academic research often presents us with unexpected connections and peculiar phenomena. In this study, we set out to explore the enthralling relationship between two seemingly disparate entities: air pollution in the bustling metropolis of Houston and the viewership count for the enduring soap opera, Days of Our Lives. While at first glance these two topics may appear as mismatched as mismatched socks, our investigation has exposed a captivating correlation that even the most seasoned soap opera scriptwriter might find hard to believe.
Houston, with its sprawling urban landscape and lively cultural scene, has long been the focal point of environmental discourse due to its notorious smoggy reputation. Conversely, Days of Our Lives, the daytime drama revered for its timeless tales of love, betrayal, and intrigue, has amassed a dedicated following spanning multiple generations. Never in a million episodes would one have anticipated that these two seemingly unrelated entities could share an unseen bond. Yet, as we delved into the depths of data analysis, we uncovered a narrative as compelling as any daytime soap plot twist.
Armed with data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our research team embarked on a mission to analyze three decades' worth of information. The statistical revelations we unearthed left us not only scratching our heads but also admiring the serendipitous dance between air quality and soap opera fascination. Our analysis yielded a staggering correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. These numbers not only raised eyebrows but also colored our findings with a dramatic flair fit for a primetime television melodrama.
The implications of our findings extend beyond the sheer amusement of discovering this unlikely correlation. Our research could shed light on why Houstonians turn to the world of Days of Our Lives as an escape from the city's snooty smog and atmospheric dramatizations. By probing this unusual pairing of environmental factors and television entertainment, we hope to capture the imagination of our colleagues and spark further investigations into the uncharted territories where science and soap operas collide.
In delving into this unorthodox correlation, we are reminded that reality often surpasses fiction, and that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot indeed thickens. With this study, we invite our esteemed peers to suspend disbelief and join us in unearthing the quirks and curiosities that make the world of research a beguiling and, at times, whimsical endeavor.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

The connection between air pollution and television viewership has been a topic of interest in environmental and media studies. Smith et al. (2015) explored the psychological impact of air pollution on individuals and found a correlation with increased television consumption. Similarly, Doe and Jones (2018) conducted a study on the cultural influences of air quality and observed a potential link with specific television genres. These initial studies set the stage for our investigation into the unexpected pairing of Houston's notorious air pollution and the enduring fascination with Days of Our Lives.

In "The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters," Rose George delves into the complexities of urban living, including the challenges of environmental pollution. While her work primarily focuses on sanitation and waste management, it indirectly highlights the interconnectedness of environmental factors and daily routines. Furthermore, "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman provides a thought-provoking account of the Earth's resilience in the absence of human influence, prompting contemplation on the intricate relationship between human activities and environmental repercussions.

On a more lighthearted note, the fictional works of soap opera scriptwriters and television enthusiasts offer a whimsical lens through which to view our research topic. In "Soap Opera: The Inside Story of Procter & Gamble," Alecia Swasy provides an insider look at the world of soap operas and the dedicated audience that follows these timeless melodramas. Additionally, the fictional account "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez playfully weaves together themes of love and environmental challenges, offering a humorous parallel to our investigation.

Further expanding our literary reach, we expanded our review to unexpected sources. In a surprisingly revelatory turn, we stumbled across profound insights hidden within the labyrinth of CVS receipts – a seemingly mundane artifact that, upon closer examination, yielded unexpected revelations. The expanse of data collected across endless rolls of thermal paper unleashed a cascade of quirky correlations, leading us to ponder the possibility of a CVS receipt-based research methodology – an unconventional approach that might just hold the key to unlocking the enigmatic relationship between air pollution and Days of Our Lives viewership.

In the spirit of scholarly inquiry, our literature review not only embraces the conventional sources but also ventures into the uncharted territories of whimsy and absurdity, affirming that no topic is beyond the reach of academic exploration – even if it involves smoggy plots and soap opera hogs.


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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Houston and Viewership count for Days of Our Lives. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia . You used data from 1980 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]]
Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we explored the surprising connection between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. Through rigorous data analysis, we unearthed a striking relationship that not only raised eyebrows but also left us soapy-eyed with wonder. Leveraging the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our team calculated a correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. Our findings could explain why the citizens of Houston have a penchant for turning to daytime dramas as a means of escape from the city's smoggy reality. Our research sheds light on the curious intertwining of environmental factors and television entertainment, proving that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot thickens.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The whimsical world of academic research often presents us with unexpected connections and peculiar phenomena. In this study, we set out to explore the enthralling relationship between two seemingly disparate entities: air pollution in the bustling metropolis of Houston and the viewership count for the enduring soap opera, Days of Our Lives. While at first glance these two topics may appear as mismatched as mismatched socks, our investigation has exposed a captivating correlation that even the most seasoned soap opera scriptwriter might find hard to believe.
Houston, with its sprawling urban landscape and lively cultural scene, has long been the focal point of environmental discourse due to its notorious smoggy reputation. Conversely, Days of Our Lives, the daytime drama revered for its timeless tales of love, betrayal, and intrigue, has amassed a dedicated following spanning multiple generations. Never in a million episodes would one have anticipated that these two seemingly unrelated entities could share an unseen bond. Yet, as we delved into the depths of data analysis, we uncovered a narrative as compelling as any daytime soap plot twist.
Armed with data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our research team embarked on a mission to analyze three decades' worth of information. The statistical revelations we unearthed left us not only scratching our heads but also admiring the serendipitous dance between air quality and soap opera fascination. Our analysis yielded a staggering correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. These numbers not only raised eyebrows but also colored our findings with a dramatic flair fit for a primetime television melodrama.
The implications of our findings extend beyond the sheer amusement of discovering this unlikely correlation. Our research could shed light on why Houstonians turn to the world of Days of Our Lives as an escape from the city's snooty smog and atmospheric dramatizations. By probing this unusual pairing of environmental factors and television entertainment, we hope to capture the imagination of our colleagues and spark further investigations into the uncharted territories where science and soap operas collide.
In delving into this unorthodox correlation, we are reminded that reality often surpasses fiction, and that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot indeed thickens. With this study, we invite our esteemed peers to suspend disbelief and join us in unearthing the quirks and curiosities that make the world of research a beguiling and, at times, whimsical endeavor.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To unravel the enigmatic connection between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count of the enduring soap opera Days of Our Lives, our research team employed a combination of data collection, statistical analysis, and a splash of curiosity. The data utilized for this investigation were primarily sourced from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Wikipedia, where we sifted through decades of information from the years 1980 to 2021.

Our first step involved the retrieval of air quality data from the EPA, where we cast our net into the digital sea of measurements, indices, and pollutant concentrations. With keen eyes and a dose of determination, we gathered air pollution data specific to the Houston metropolitan area, capturing the atmospheric intricacies that weave into the city's urban tapestry. Whether it was the ominous specter of particulate matter or the whimsical dance of nitrogen oxides, no air pollutant was left unexamined in our quest for understanding.

Simultaneously, we turned our attention to the captivating world of soap operas, immersing ourselves in the riveting narratives of Days of Our Lives. Surrounded by the timeless tales of love, betrayal, and cliffhangers, we delved into the viewership data for the beloved show, seeking patterns and trends that would parallel the ebb and flow of Houston's air quality. Like intrepid detectives, we pieced together the puzzle of viewership counts over the years, unearthing patterns that unfurled like the dramatic plot twists of a soap opera saga.

With our arsenal of data in hand, we turned to the wizardry of statistical analysis, employing rigorous methods to reveal the hidden threads connecting air pollution and soap opera viewership. We calculated the correlation coefficient, the stalwart metric that gauges the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, and our findings dazzled us like the dramatic finale of a high-stakes storyline. The correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 emerged from the digital chrysalis of data, signaling a robust association that beckoned us to further unravel the narrative entwining air pollution and soap opera intrigue.

To affirm the validity and reliability of our findings, we summoned the p-value, the arbiter of statistical significance, which stood at less than 0.01, denoting a result that would make even the most discerning statistician raise an eyebrow in astonishment. The convergence of our statistical revelations not only reaffirmed the robustness of our analysis but also provided the plot twists and turns worthy of a primetime statistical thriller.

In narrating the methodology of our research, we are reminded that the pursuit of knowledge, like the unfolding drama of a soap opera, is laced with unexpected twists and captivating revelations. Through our whimsical yet rigorous approach, we embarked on a journey through a peculiar landscape where air pollution and soap operas intersect, uncovering a story as compelling as any daytime drama. With methodological gusto, statistical prowess, and a penchant for peculiar connections, we present to the academic world our enthralling findings, where the snooty smog of Houston dances with the captivating allure of Days of Our Lives in an unlikely embrace of statistical serendipity.


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

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Houston and Viewership count for Days of Our Lives. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia .

For the time period 1980 to 2021, you found a correlation 0.8815801, r-squared of 0.7771834, 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]]
Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we explored the surprising connection between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. Through rigorous data analysis, we unearthed a striking relationship that not only raised eyebrows but also left us soapy-eyed with wonder. Leveraging the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our team calculated a correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. Our findings could explain why the citizens of Houston have a penchant for turning to daytime dramas as a means of escape from the city's smoggy reality. Our research sheds light on the curious intertwining of environmental factors and television entertainment, proving that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot thickens.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
The whimsical world of academic research often presents us with unexpected connections and peculiar phenomena. In this study, we set out to explore the enthralling relationship between two seemingly disparate entities: air pollution in the bustling metropolis of Houston and the viewership count for the enduring soap opera, Days of Our Lives. While at first glance these two topics may appear as mismatched as mismatched socks, our investigation has exposed a captivating correlation that even the most seasoned soap opera scriptwriter might find hard to believe.
Houston, with its sprawling urban landscape and lively cultural scene, has long been the focal point of environmental discourse due to its notorious smoggy reputation. Conversely, Days of Our Lives, the daytime drama revered for its timeless tales of love, betrayal, and intrigue, has amassed a dedicated following spanning multiple generations. Never in a million episodes would one have anticipated that these two seemingly unrelated entities could share an unseen bond. Yet, as we delved into the depths of data analysis, we uncovered a narrative as compelling as any daytime soap plot twist.
Armed with data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our research team embarked on a mission to analyze three decades' worth of information. The statistical revelations we unearthed left us not only scratching our heads but also admiring the serendipitous dance between air quality and soap opera fascination. Our analysis yielded a staggering correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. These numbers not only raised eyebrows but also colored our findings with a dramatic flair fit for a primetime television melodrama.
The implications of our findings extend beyond the sheer amusement of discovering this unlikely correlation. Our research could shed light on why Houstonians turn to the world of Days of Our Lives as an escape from the city's snooty smog and atmospheric dramatizations. By probing this unusual pairing of environmental factors and television entertainment, we hope to capture the imagination of our colleagues and spark further investigations into the uncharted territories where science and soap operas collide.
In delving into this unorthodox correlation, we are reminded that reality often surpasses fiction, and that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot indeed thickens. With this study, we invite our esteemed peers to suspend disbelief and join us in unearthing the quirks and curiosities that make the world of research a beguiling and, at times, whimsical endeavor.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

Results

Our analysis of the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia revealed a striking correlation between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the soap opera, Days of Our Lives. The calculated correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and an r-squared value of 0.7771834 for the time period from 1980 to 2021, left us not only gasping for fresh, clean air but also in awe of the unexpected kinship between Houston's hazy skies and the captivating allure of daytime drama.

Figure 1 showcases the scatterplot illustrating this astonishing correlation, and much like the soap opera itself, the plot thickens as we delve deeper into the implications of our findings.

This robust correlation coefficient suggests that as air pollution in Houston increased, so did the viewership of Days of Our Lives. The p-value of less than 0.01 further solidifies the significance of this relationship, leaving us convinced that the smoggy saga of Houston has indeed played a role in shaping the television preferences of its residents.

Who would have thought that a city's atmospheric conditions could have such a dramatic impact on its soap opera consumption? Our findings provoke contemplation on whether the citizens of Houston turn to the melodramatic world of Days of Our Lives as a form of escapism from the city's polluted reality. Indeed, the correlation unveils a tale as twisted and convoluted as any soap opera plotline.

Once dismissed as mere entertainment, the world of soap operas has now transcended into a realm of unexpected environmental intrigue. Our analysis not only reveals the bizarre interplay between air pollution and television habits but also serves as a testament to the serendipitous and often bewildering nature of academic inquiry.

In summary, our research elucidates the peculiar relationship between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for Days of Our Lives, adding a layer of complexity and mystique to the enduring connection between environmental factors and television entertainment. As we spin this tale of unlikely correlations, the curtain rises on a new chapter of scientific exploration, reminding us that reality can be just as captivating and enigmatic as fiction.

In the words of Days of Our Lives' iconic introduction, "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the correlations of smog and soap operas."


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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Houston and Viewership count for Days of Our Lives. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

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

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

[[TITLE]]
Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we explored the surprising connection between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. Through rigorous data analysis, we unearthed a striking relationship that not only raised eyebrows but also left us soapy-eyed with wonder. Leveraging the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our team calculated a correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. Our findings could explain why the citizens of Houston have a penchant for turning to daytime dramas as a means of escape from the city's smoggy reality. Our research sheds light on the curious intertwining of environmental factors and television entertainment, proving that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot thickens.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
The connection between air pollution and television viewership has been a topic of interest in environmental and media studies. Smith et al. (2015) explored the psychological impact of air pollution on individuals and found a correlation with increased television consumption. Similarly, Doe and Jones (2018) conducted a study on the cultural influences of air quality and observed a potential link with specific television genres. These initial studies set the stage for our investigation into the unexpected pairing of Houston's notorious air pollution and the enduring fascination with Days of Our Lives.
In "The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters," Rose George delves into the complexities of urban living, including the challenges of environmental pollution. While her work primarily focuses on sanitation and waste management, it indirectly highlights the interconnectedness of environmental factors and daily routines. Furthermore, "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman provides a thought-provoking account of the Earth's resilience in the absence of human influence, prompting contemplation on the intricate relationship between human activities and environmental repercussions.
On a more lighthearted note, the fictional works of soap opera scriptwriters and television enthusiasts offer a whimsical lens through which to view our research topic. In "Soap Opera: The Inside Story of Procter & Gamble," Alecia Swasy provides an insider look at the world of soap operas and the dedicated audience that follows these timeless melodramas. Additionally, the fictional account "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez playfully weaves together themes of love and environmental challenges, offering a humorous parallel to our investigation.
Further expanding our literary reach, we expanded our review to unexpected sources. In a surprisingly revelatory turn, we stumbled across profound insights hidden within the labyrinth of CVS receipts – a seemingly mundane artifact that, upon closer examination, yielded unexpected revelations. The expanse of data collected across endless rolls of thermal paper unleashed a cascade of quirky correlations, leading us to ponder the possibility of a CVS receipt-based research methodology – an unconventional approach that might just hold the key to unlocking the enigmatic relationship between air pollution and Days of Our Lives viewership.
In the spirit of scholarly inquiry, our literature review not only embraces the conventional sources but also ventures into the uncharted territories of whimsy and absurdity, affirming that no topic is beyond the reach of academic exploration – even if it involves smoggy plots and soap opera hogs.

[[RESULTS]]
Results
Our analysis of the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia revealed a striking correlation between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the soap opera, Days of Our Lives. The calculated correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and an r-squared value of 0.7771834 for the time period from 1980 to 2021, left us not only gasping for fresh, clean air but also in awe of the unexpected kinship between Houston's hazy skies and the captivating allure of daytime drama.
Figure 1 showcases the scatterplot illustrating this astonishing correlation, and much like the soap opera itself, the plot thickens as we delve deeper into the implications of our findings.
This robust correlation coefficient suggests that as air pollution in Houston increased, so did the viewership of Days of Our Lives. The p-value of less than 0.01 further solidifies the significance of this relationship, leaving us convinced that the smoggy saga of Houston has indeed played a role in shaping the television preferences of its residents.
Who would have thought that a city's atmospheric conditions could have such a dramatic impact on its soap opera consumption? Our findings provoke contemplation on whether the citizens of Houston turn to the melodramatic world of Days of Our Lives as a form of escapism from the city's polluted reality. Indeed, the correlation unveils a tale as twisted and convoluted as any soap opera plotline.
Once dismissed as mere entertainment, the world of soap operas has now transcended into a realm of unexpected environmental intrigue. Our analysis not only reveals the bizarre interplay between air pollution and television habits but also serves as a testament to the serendipitous and often bewildering nature of academic inquiry.
In summary, our research elucidates the peculiar relationship between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for Days of Our Lives, adding a layer of complexity and mystique to the enduring connection between environmental factors and television entertainment. As we spin this tale of unlikely correlations, the curtain rises on a new chapter of scientific exploration, reminding us that reality can be just as captivating and enigmatic as fiction.
In the words of Days of Our Lives' iconic introduction, "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the correlations of smog and soap operas."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of our study provide remarkable support for the prior research that has suggested a connection between air pollution and television viewership. Our findings align with the work of Smith et al. (2015) and Doe and Jones (2018), who initially postulated a link between air quality and increased television consumption. While their studies focused on broader television habits, our research delves into the specific allure of a classic soap opera in the midst of Houston's infamous air pollution.

The unexpected intertwining of seemingly disparate elements such as environmental pollution and daytime drama is a testament to the multi-faceted influences on human behavior. Our study corroborates the notion that environmental factors can extend their reach into the realm of entertainment choices, providing a resounding endorsement of the interdisciplinary nature of cultural and environmental studies. It appears that Houston's citizens might be seeking refuge from the murkiness of the atmosphere by immersing themselves in the dramatic narratives of Days of Our Lives.

Additionally, our literature review delved into the unexpected realm of whimsy, where we encountered insights buried within inconspicuous quarters, such as the labyrinth of CVS receipts. Upon taking this seemingly humorous approach seriously, we were struck by the revelatory potential of unconventional sources, emphasizing the importance of approaching research with an open and imaginative mindset. While initially entertaining, this unconventional lens prompted us to consider the possibility of untapped data sources and unconventional methodologies that might yield unexpected connections and insights in academic inquiry.

Moreover, the findings from our research provide a tangible example of the intricate relationship between human activities and environmental repercussions, echoing the thought-provoking accounts of urban living and its environmental challenges described by Rose George and Alan Weisman, albeit in a soap operatic twist. Indeed, our study highlights the complexity and overlap of seemingly unrelated elements, offering a fresh perspective on the interconnectedness of environmental factors and daily routines.

In summary, the correlation uncovered in our study not only reinforces previous research on the psychological impacts of air pollution on individual behaviors but also accentuates the captivating, albeit quirky, nature of academic inquiry. Our findings underscore the unexpected and often delightfully comical interactions between environmental phenomena and cultural practices, proving that when it comes to the far-reaching effects of air pollution, the plot thickens – much like a soap opera cliffhanger.

It is evident that there is still much to be explored in this unanticipated intersection of air pollution and television preferences, and our study serves as a compelling invitation for further investigation into the intriguing dynamics of environmental influence on popular culture.


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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Houston and Viewership count for Days of Our Lives. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

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

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this study, we explored the surprising connection between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. Through rigorous data analysis, we unearthed a striking relationship that not only raised eyebrows but also left us soapy-eyed with wonder. Leveraging the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our team calculated a correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. Our findings could explain why the citizens of Houston have a penchant for turning to daytime dramas as a means of escape from the city's smoggy reality. Our research sheds light on the curious intertwining of environmental factors and television entertainment, proving that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot thickens.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The whimsical world of academic research often presents us with unexpected connections and peculiar phenomena. In this study, we set out to explore the enthralling relationship between two seemingly disparate entities: air pollution in the bustling metropolis of Houston and the viewership count for the enduring soap opera, Days of Our Lives. While at first glance these two topics may appear as mismatched as mismatched socks, our investigation has exposed a captivating correlation that even the most seasoned soap opera scriptwriter might find hard to believe.
Houston, with its sprawling urban landscape and lively cultural scene, has long been the focal point of environmental discourse due to its notorious smoggy reputation. Conversely, Days of Our Lives, the daytime drama revered for its timeless tales of love, betrayal, and intrigue, has amassed a dedicated following spanning multiple generations. Never in a million episodes would one have anticipated that these two seemingly unrelated entities could share an unseen bond. Yet, as we delved into the depths of data analysis, we uncovered a narrative as compelling as any daytime soap plot twist.
Armed with data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our research team embarked on a mission to analyze three decades' worth of information. The statistical revelations we unearthed left us not only scratching our heads but also admiring the serendipitous dance between air quality and soap opera fascination. Our analysis yielded a staggering correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. These numbers not only raised eyebrows but also colored our findings with a dramatic flair fit for a primetime television melodrama.
The implications of our findings extend beyond the sheer amusement of discovering this unlikely correlation. Our research could shed light on why Houstonians turn to the world of Days of Our Lives as an escape from the city's snooty smog and atmospheric dramatizations. By probing this unusual pairing of environmental factors and television entertainment, we hope to capture the imagination of our colleagues and spark further investigations into the uncharted territories where science and soap operas collide.
In delving into this unorthodox correlation, we are reminded that reality often surpasses fiction, and that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot indeed thickens. With this study, we invite our esteemed peers to suspend disbelief and join us in unearthing the quirks and curiosities that make the world of research a beguiling and, at times, whimsical endeavor.

[[RESULTS]]
Results
Our analysis of the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia revealed a striking correlation between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the soap opera, Days of Our Lives. The calculated correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and an r-squared value of 0.7771834 for the time period from 1980 to 2021, left us not only gasping for fresh, clean air but also in awe of the unexpected kinship between Houston's hazy skies and the captivating allure of daytime drama.
Figure 1 showcases the scatterplot illustrating this astonishing correlation, and much like the soap opera itself, the plot thickens as we delve deeper into the implications of our findings.
This robust correlation coefficient suggests that as air pollution in Houston increased, so did the viewership of Days of Our Lives. The p-value of less than 0.01 further solidifies the significance of this relationship, leaving us convinced that the smoggy saga of Houston has indeed played a role in shaping the television preferences of its residents.
Who would have thought that a city's atmospheric conditions could have such a dramatic impact on its soap opera consumption? Our findings provoke contemplation on whether the citizens of Houston turn to the melodramatic world of Days of Our Lives as a form of escapism from the city's polluted reality. Indeed, the correlation unveils a tale as twisted and convoluted as any soap opera plotline.
Once dismissed as mere entertainment, the world of soap operas has now transcended into a realm of unexpected environmental intrigue. Our analysis not only reveals the bizarre interplay between air pollution and television habits but also serves as a testament to the serendipitous and often bewildering nature of academic inquiry.
In summary, our research elucidates the peculiar relationship between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for Days of Our Lives, adding a layer of complexity and mystique to the enduring connection between environmental factors and television entertainment. As we spin this tale of unlikely correlations, the curtain rises on a new chapter of scientific exploration, reminding us that reality can be just as captivating and enigmatic as fiction.
In the words of Days of Our Lives' iconic introduction, "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the correlations of smog and soap operas."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our exploration of the unexpected relationship between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for Days of Our Lives has certainly left us with more questions than answers. It seems that the smoggy saga of Houston has woven its tendrils into the very fabric of daytime drama, proving that reality is often stranger than soap opera fiction. Our findings not only unveiled a correlation as robust as a soap opera villain's plot but also tickled our academic curiosity with an air of whimsy.

The staggering correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and the p-value of less than 0.01 shed light on the captivating dance between Houston's hazy skies and the allure of televised melodrama. As the plot thickens, it becomes evident that the citizens of Houston may indeed turn to Days of Our Lives as a means of escape from the city's smoggy reality, seeking refuge in the tangled love triangles and dramatic turns that unfold on their screens. The air pollution seems to have quite literally clouded their judgment, leading them to immerse themselves in the dramatic escapades of Salem's inhabitants.

As we wrap up this tale of peculiar correlations, we invite our esteemed colleagues to bask in the serendipitous and at times, obscure nature of our findings. But fear not, dear reader, for we firmly assert that no more research is needed in this area. After all, we've scrubbed through the data, leaving no smudge of doubt on the glass pane of knowledge. As for the residents of Houston, may they find solace in the soapy embrace of Days of Our Lives, where the drama always takes the breath away, even when the air quality doesn't.

In the immortal words of the soap opera classics, "Tune in tomorrow for another gripping and unexpected episode of research!"



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 Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Eclectic Environmental Sociology


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 Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Center for Atmospheric Absurdities


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 Snooty Smog and Soap Opera Hogs: The Link Between Air Pollution in Houston and Viewership for Days of Our Lives with an abstract of In this study, we explored the surprising connection between air pollution in Houston and the viewership count for the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. Through rigorous data analysis, we unearthed a striking relationship that not only raised eyebrows but also left us soapy-eyed with wonder. Leveraging the data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wikipedia, our team calculated a correlation coefficient of 0.8815801 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the period spanning 1980 to 2021. Our findings could explain why the citizens of Houston have a penchant for turning to daytime dramas as a means of escape from the city's smoggy reality. Our research sheds light on the curious intertwining of environmental factors and television entertainment, proving that when it comes to air pollution and soap operas, the plot thickens.

ChatGPT:

air pollution, Houston, Days of Our Lives, viewership, correlation, Environmental Protection Agency, soap opera, data analysis, pollution and entertainment

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



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Data details

Air pollution in Houston
Detailed data title: Percentage of days 'unhealthy' or worse air quality in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
See what else correlates with Air pollution in Houston

Viewership count for Days of Our Lives
Detailed data title: Metered viewership count for Days of Our Lives
Source: Wikipedia
See what else correlates with Viewership count for Days of Our Lives

Correlation r = 0.8815801 (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 = 0.7771834 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 77.7% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Viewership count for Days of Our Lives) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Air pollution in Houston) over the 42 years from 1980 through 2021.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 1.3E-14. 0.0000000000000128518831651119
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 0.88 in 1.3E-12% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 77,809,608,689,459 random variables You don't actually need 77 trillion 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 41 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 41 because we have two variables measured over a period of 42 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.

[ 0.79, 0.93 ] 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.
198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Air pollution in Houston (Bad air quality days)21.703318.90412025.479518.30620.821917.260318.630120.76512.328815.068510.684910.10939.3150713.150719.45218.7431714.246611.780817.260314.207710.68499.5890411.232911.202212.12128.493155.205482.739733.287674.657533.561643.005461.369860.2739734.109590.2732240.8219182.465751.369860.8196722.46575
Viewership count for Days of Our Lives (Nielson share)560000055000005700000710000071000007200000700000071000006500000540000052000005400000490000056000005300000580000058000005100000580000042000003800000360000031000003100000270000026000002300000210000022000002200000200000020000002100000190000020500001800000160000016000001600000140000012000001200000




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.




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([21.7033,18.9041,20,25.4795,18.306,20.8219,17.2603,18.6301,20.765,12.3288,15.0685,10.6849,10.1093,9.31507,13.1507,19.4521,8.74317,14.2466,11.7808,17.2603,14.2077,10.6849,9.58904,11.2329,11.2022,12.1212,8.49315,5.20548,2.73973,3.28767,4.65753,3.56164,3.00546,1.36986,0.273973,4.10959,0.273224,0.821918,2.46575,1.36986,0.819672,2.46575,])
array_2 = np.array([5600000,5500000,5700000,7100000,7100000,7200000,7000000,7100000,6500000,5400000,5200000,5400000,4900000,5600000,5300000,5800000,5800000,5100000,5800000,4200000,3800000,3600000,3100000,3100000,2700000,2600000,2300000,2100000,2200000,2200000,2000000,2000000,2100000,1900000,2050000,1800000,1600000,1600000,1600000,1400000,1200000,1200000,])
array_1_name = "Air pollution in Houston"
array_2_name = "Viewership count for Days of Our Lives"

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

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



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

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Correlation ID: 2022 · Black Variable ID: 20719 · Red Variable ID: 87
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