Spurious correlation #2,190 · View random
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security and the second variable is Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. The chart goes from 2011 to 2019, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security and the second variable is Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. The chart goes from 2011 to 2019, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

As more people became experts in homeland security, they realized the only way to truly defend their nation was by catching foul balls and intercepting home runs at Nationals games. It seems like learning about protective services really made them want to *catch* all the action on the field.

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a cyberpunk-style crowded auditorium, where a group of graduates is proudly receiving their Associates degrees in Homeland Security and related protective services. Meanwhile, in the background, the ticket sales booth for the Washington Nationals baseball game is bustling with excited fans purchasing their tickets for the next game. The scene should capture the futuristic and vibrant atmosphere with neon lights, advanced technology, and a juxtaposition between the academic ceremony and the bustling sports event. 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: Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security and related protective services and Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. 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: Brutalism Cutsy art illustration Psychedelic Cyberpunk Cute 2D animation
ChatGPT: Cyberpunk

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 Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security and related protective services and Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games together. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a crowded auditorium, a group of graduates proudly receive their Associates degrees in Homeland security and related protective services, while in the background, the ticket sales booth for the Washington Nationals baseball game is bustling with excited fans purchasing their tickets for the next game.

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: [ Cyberpunk ] and depicting this scene: In a crowded auditorium, a group of graduates proudly receive their Associates degrees in Homeland security and related protective services, while in the background, the ticket sales booth for the Washington Nationals baseball game is bustling with excited fans purchasing their tickets for the next game. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a cyberpunk-style crowded auditorium, where a group of graduates is proudly receiving their Associates degrees in Homeland Security and related protective services. Meanwhile, in the background, the ticket sales booth for the Washington Nationals baseball game is bustling with excited fans purchasing their tickets for the next game. The scene should capture the futuristic and vibrant atmosphere with neon lights, advanced technology, and a juxtaposition between the academic ceremony and the bustling sports event.

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

I sequence the requests into multiple prompts because I find GPT 3.5 to perform much better with short, well-managed contexts. Thus, I track the context directly in Python and only ask ChatGPT targeted questions.
^{Show prompt for explanation} Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how an increase in Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security and related protective services caused Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games to increase. Include one good pun.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Field of Schemes: The Correlation Between Associates Degrees in Homeland Security and Protective Services and Ticket Sales for Washington Nationals Games

Journal of Sports Economics and Security Studies

Jan 2024

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

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

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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security and related protective services and Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

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

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Field of Schemes: The Correlation Between Associates Degrees in Homeland Security and Protective Services and Ticket Sales for Washington Nationals Games"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper examines the connection between the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services and the ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Using comprehensive data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Baseball-Reference.com, our research team calculated a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9275452 with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the years 2011 to 2019. The findings suggest a remarkably strong relationship between individuals completing programs in homeland security and protective services and the demand for tickets to attend Washington Nationals games. The implications of these unexpected connections will be discussed in the paper, shedding light on the tangled web of factors that influence attendance at major league baseball games.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
As Major League Baseball continues to captivate the hearts and minds of sports enthusiasts across the nation, the factors influencing attendance at games have been the subject of considerable academic inquiry. While the impact of team performance, weather conditions, and promotional activities on ticket sales has been well-documented, the relationship between educational trends and game attendance has remained largely unexplored. This study seeks to fill that gap by examining the connection between the confoundingly distinct domains of homeland security and protective services education and the demand for tickets to Washington Nationals games.
While one might be tempted to assume that such disparate fields have little in common, our research team was drawn to the idea that a deep understanding of security and protective services may indeed be related to the desire to attend baseball games. The idea that an Associates degree in homeland security could in some way influence an individual's choice to attend a baseball game might sound far-fetched at first, but as we delved into the data, the strength of the correlation left us both surprised and amused. Undoubtedly, this inquiry not only blurs the boundaries between academically disparate fields but also adds an element of unexpected whimsy to the otherwise serious pursuit of understanding consumer behavior.
The Washington Nationals, as a case study, offer a particularly intriguing lens through which to explore this connection. As the team navigated its own ups and downs on the field, our research team wondered whether the ebb and flow of educational pursuits could be influenced by the team's performance. The idea that the fate of defending the nation could be linked to the success of a baseball team may seem comical, yet the statistical analysis presented in this paper points to a robust association that demands further investigation.
In the following sections, we will explicate the methodological approach used to analyze the datasets obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics and Baseball-Reference.com, followed by a detailed presentation of the findings. The implications of these unexpected connections will be discussed, shedding light on the tangled web of factors that influence attendance at major-league baseball games. While the nature of this association may raise an eyebrow or two, the statistical rigor of our analysis leaves little room for doubt about the strength of the correlation.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

The existing literature on the correlation between educational trends in homeland security and protective services and attendance at major league baseball games is, regrettably, sparse. Smith et al. (2015) conducted a study examining the influence of educational attainment on leisure activities and found some evidence to suggest that higher levels of education are associated with increased participation in cultural and sporting events. However, the authors' work did not specifically delve into the realm of homeland security education and its potential impact on attendance at baseball games.

In "Doe and Jones" (2018), the authors analyzed the societal implications of security education, emphasizing the broader impact of security training on public engagement with recreational activities. While their work did touch upon the intersection of security education and leisure pursuits, it did not specifically investigate the attendance patterns of individuals with homeland security-related qualifications at specific sporting events.

Turning to non-fiction publications that may provide tangential insights, "Homeland Security Handbook" by Brown (2016) offers a comprehensive overview of the field and its relevance in contemporary society, albeit with no explicit reference to its potential influence on sports attendance. "Protective Services: The Hidden Guardians" by White (2017) presents a detailed examination of the protective services sector, shedding light on the multifaceted responsibilities of individuals in the field. However, the question of whether such educational backgrounds affect attendance at baseball games remains unanswered in these scholarly works.

In the realm of fiction, the thriller "National Security" by Black (2014) and the espionage novel "The Nationals Affair" by Green (2019) both inject elements of intrigue and suspense into the discussion of security-related themes. While these literary works may captivate the imagination, they provide little empirical basis for understanding the potential link between homeland security education and interest in attending Washington Nationals games.

Continuing the review in a decidedly less conventional direction, it is worth noting that the literature search for this review expanded to include rather unconventional sources. Popular belief and anecdotal evidence from overheard conversations at local coffee shops have suggested a potential link between expertise in homeland security and an affinity for hot dogs and peanuts at baseball games. Furthermore, the back of certain shampoo bottles, when read in a particular sequence, seemed to contain cryptic messages related to the attendance patterns of individuals with homeland security training, although the robustness of this information remains tenuous at best.

In sum, the extant literature provides limited guidance on the unexpected yet compelling relationship between homeland security education and the demand for tickets to Washington Nationals games. Consequently, this study aims to break new ground in elucidating this peculiar connection.

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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security and related protective services and Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, 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 National Center for Education Statistics and Baseball-Reference.com . You used data from 2011 to 2019

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]]
"Field of Schemes: The Correlation Between Associates Degrees in Homeland Security and Protective Services and Ticket Sales for Washington Nationals Games"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper examines the connection between the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services and the ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Using comprehensive data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Baseball-Reference.com, our research team calculated a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9275452 with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the years 2011 to 2019. The findings suggest a remarkably strong relationship between individuals completing programs in homeland security and protective services and the demand for tickets to attend Washington Nationals games. The implications of these unexpected connections will be discussed in the paper, shedding light on the tangled web of factors that influence attendance at major league baseball games.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
As Major League Baseball continues to captivate the hearts and minds of sports enthusiasts across the nation, the factors influencing attendance at games have been the subject of considerable academic inquiry. While the impact of team performance, weather conditions, and promotional activities on ticket sales has been well-documented, the relationship between educational trends and game attendance has remained largely unexplored. This study seeks to fill that gap by examining the connection between the confoundingly distinct domains of homeland security and protective services education and the demand for tickets to Washington Nationals games.
While one might be tempted to assume that such disparate fields have little in common, our research team was drawn to the idea that a deep understanding of security and protective services may indeed be related to the desire to attend baseball games. The idea that an Associates degree in homeland security could in some way influence an individual's choice to attend a baseball game might sound far-fetched at first, but as we delved into the data, the strength of the correlation left us both surprised and amused. Undoubtedly, this inquiry not only blurs the boundaries between academically disparate fields but also adds an element of unexpected whimsy to the otherwise serious pursuit of understanding consumer behavior.
The Washington Nationals, as a case study, offer a particularly intriguing lens through which to explore this connection. As the team navigated its own ups and downs on the field, our research team wondered whether the ebb and flow of educational pursuits could be influenced by the team's performance. The idea that the fate of defending the nation could be linked to the success of a baseball team may seem comical, yet the statistical analysis presented in this paper points to a robust association that demands further investigation.
In the following sections, we will explicate the methodological approach used to analyze the datasets obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics and Baseball-Reference.com, followed by a detailed presentation of the findings. The implications of these unexpected connections will be discussed, shedding light on the tangled web of factors that influence attendance at major-league baseball games. While the nature of this association may raise an eyebrow or two, the statistical rigor of our analysis leaves little room for doubt about the strength of the correlation.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]
The methodology employed in this study aimed to rigorously analyze the relationship between the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services and ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. The study period covered the years 2011 to 2019, allowing for a comprehensive examination of trends over an extended time frame.

The data collection process involved meticulous extraction of relevant information from the National Center for Education Statistics and Baseball-Reference.com. This involved navigating the virtual labyrinths of these repositories, akin to embarking on an archaeological expedition where the treasures were not artifacts of ancient civilizations, but rather datasets representing the educational pursuits and baseball fervor of modern times.

To establish a robust understanding of the correlation between the number of Associates degrees awarded and Washington Nationals ticket sales, the research team employed a convoluted yet systematic approach. First, the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services was dissected and categorized by year and geographical location. This was akin to dissecting a complex organism, extracting vital information, and meticulously cataloging each component for further manipulation.

Next, the ticket sales for Washington Nationals games were examined with the same fervor of an ancient alchemist seeking to transmute base materials into gold. Various factors such as game dates, opponents, promotional events, and weather conditions were analyzed to provide a holistic understanding of attendance patterns.

After this Herculean data wrangling task, the statistical analysis was performed. The correlation coefficient was calculated with the precision of a well-oiled machine, synthesizing the associations between the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services and ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Additionally, a t-test was conducted to ascertain the statistical significance of the observed correlation, ensuring that the findings were not merely a result of random chance, akin to separating the wheat from the chaff to reveal the golden nugget of truth.

The calculations were executed with a level of precision that would put a Swiss watchmaker to shame, ensuring that the results were robust and defensible. This rigorous analytical approach allowed the research team to uncover the remarkably strong correlation between educational pursuits in security and protective services and the demand for tickets to attend Washington Nationals games.

It is noted that, although the methodology pursued might appear labyrinthine and esoteric, it was essential for rigorously disentangling the seemingly incongruous relationship between homeland security education and America's favorite pastime.

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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security and related protective services and Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, 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]]
"Field of Schemes: The Correlation Between Associates Degrees in Homeland Security and Protective Services and Ticket Sales for Washington Nationals Games"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper examines the connection between the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services and the ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Using comprehensive data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Baseball-Reference.com, our research team calculated a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9275452 with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the years 2011 to 2019. The findings suggest a remarkably strong relationship between individuals completing programs in homeland security and protective services and the demand for tickets to attend Washington Nationals games. The implications of these unexpected connections will be discussed in the paper, shedding light on the tangled web of factors that influence attendance at major league baseball games.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
The existing literature on the correlation between educational trends in homeland security and protective services and attendance at major league baseball games is, regrettably, sparse. Smith et al. (2015) conducted a study examining the influence of educational attainment on leisure activities and found some evidence to suggest that higher levels of education are associated with increased participation in cultural and sporting events. However, the authors' work did not specifically delve into the realm of homeland security education and its potential impact on attendance at baseball games.
In "Doe and Jones" (2018), the authors analyzed the societal implications of security education, emphasizing the broader impact of security training on public engagement with recreational activities. While their work did touch upon the intersection of security education and leisure pursuits, it did not specifically investigate the attendance patterns of individuals with homeland security-related qualifications at specific sporting events.
Turning to non-fiction publications that may provide tangential insights, "Homeland Security Handbook" by Brown (2016) offers a comprehensive overview of the field and its relevance in contemporary society, albeit with no explicit reference to its potential influence on sports attendance. "Protective Services: The Hidden Guardians" by White (2017) presents a detailed examination of the protective services sector, shedding light on the multifaceted responsibilities of individuals in the field. However, the question of whether such educational backgrounds affect attendance at baseball games remains unanswered in these scholarly works.
In the realm of fiction, the thriller "National Security" by Black (2014) and the espionage novel "The Nationals Affair" by Green (2019) both inject elements of intrigue and suspense into the discussion of security-related themes. While these literary works may captivate the imagination, they provide little empirical basis for understanding the potential link between homeland security education and interest in attending Washington Nationals games.
Continuing the review in a decidedly less conventional direction, it is worth noting that the literature search for this review expanded to include rather unconventional sources. Popular belief and anecdotal evidence from overheard conversations at local coffee shops have suggested a potential link between expertise in homeland security and an affinity for hot dogs and peanuts at baseball games. Furthermore, the back of certain shampoo bottles, when read in a particular sequence, seemed to contain cryptic messages related to the attendance patterns of individuals with homeland security training, although the robustness of this information remains tenuous at best.
In sum, the extant literature provides limited guidance on the unexpected yet compelling relationship between homeland security education and the demand for tickets to Washington Nationals games. Consequently, this study aims to break new ground in elucidating this peculiar connection.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the data revealed a remarkably strong correlation between the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services and the ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Over the period of 2011 to 2019, a correlation coefficient of 0.9275452 was calculated, indicating a robust positive relationship between these seemingly disparate variables. The high r-squared value of 0.8603401 further underscores the substantial explanatory power of the relationship.
Furthermore, the p-value of less than 0.01 suggests that the observed correlation is statistically significant, providing confidence in the strength of the association. This finding prompts one to contemplate the intriguing possibility of individuals with expertise in homeland security and protective services being particularly inclined to attend baseball games, or perhaps even infusing a sense of vigilant security into the fan experience at the ballpark.
Figure 1 displays a scatterplot illustrating the strong positive correlation between the variables, visually capturing the compelling connection our analysis has unveiled.
These results not only showcase the unexpected bond between the education field and consumer behavior but also provide fodder for contemplation on the broader implications of such playful entanglements. The implications of these unforeseen connections will be expounded upon in the subsequent sections, adding a whimsically intriguing layer to the serious study of demand determinants for major-league baseball games.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

This study has unearthed a striking correlation between the awarding of Associates degrees in Homeland Security and Protective Services and the ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. These findings support and extend prior research on the influence of educational attainment on leisure and recreational activities, as suggested by Smith et al. (2015). The robust positive relationship observed in our analysis aligns with the broader implications of security education on public engagement with leisure pursuits, as alluded to by "Doe and Jones" (2018). It is evident that the educational backgrounds and professional expertise of individuals in the homeland security and protective services sectors may indeed shape their recreational preferences and attendance patterns, echoing the broader societal impact emphasized in prior literature.

Additionally, the statistical significance of the correlation provides empirical weight to previously unsubstantiated yet intriguing hypotheses that were unearthed during the review of unconventional sources. While the potential link between expertise in homeland security and an affinity for hot dogs and peanuts at baseball games, purported by popular belief and anecdotal evidence from local coffee shops, may have seemed whimsical at first glance, the results of this study lend unexpected credence to the existence of an association. Moreover, the seemingly cryptic messages related to attendance patterns of individuals with homeland security training, found on the back of shampoo bottles in a certain sequence, defy conventional wisdom to a certain extent, treading into the realm of empirically supported quirks.

The strong correlation coefficient and significant p-value also invite contemplation on the potential mechanisms underlying the observed relationship. One could postulate that individuals with expertise in homeland security and protective services may find solace in the structured and secure environment of a baseball stadium, adding a sense of vigilant security to the fan experience. Furthermore, the possibility of an inherent connection between the ethos of security and the communal spirit cultivated within the confines of a sporting event warrants further investigation. These unexpected yet compelling implications lend a whimsically intriguing layer to the serious study of demand determinants for major-league baseball games.

In considering these unexpected connections, it is crucial to acknowledge the limitations of our study. The nature of observational data restricts the establishment of causality, and the generalizability of the findings may be constrained by the specific context of Washington Nationals games. However, the remarkable strength of the correlation and its alignment with prior research underscore the significance of this intriguing relationship, meriting further exploration in future investigations.

The tangled web of interrelated factors that shape attendance at major league baseball games continues to unravel, revealing the unexpectedly tangled roots of this correlation. The vibrant tapestry woven by the intersections of education, security, and leisure pursuits offers a rich landscape for future scholarly exploration, flavoring the traditionally serious study of demand determinants with an unexpected dash of playfulness.

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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security and related protective services and Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, 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]]
"Field of Schemes: The Correlation Between Associates Degrees in Homeland Security and Protective Services and Ticket Sales for Washington Nationals Games"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper examines the connection between the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services and the ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Using comprehensive data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Baseball-Reference.com, our research team calculated a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9275452 with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the years 2011 to 2019. The findings suggest a remarkably strong relationship between individuals completing programs in homeland security and protective services and the demand for tickets to attend Washington Nationals games. The implications of these unexpected connections will be discussed in the paper, shedding light on the tangled web of factors that influence attendance at major league baseball games.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
As Major League Baseball continues to captivate the hearts and minds of sports enthusiasts across the nation, the factors influencing attendance at games have been the subject of considerable academic inquiry. While the impact of team performance, weather conditions, and promotional activities on ticket sales has been well-documented, the relationship between educational trends and game attendance has remained largely unexplored. This study seeks to fill that gap by examining the connection between the confoundingly distinct domains of homeland security and protective services education and the demand for tickets to Washington Nationals games.
While one might be tempted to assume that such disparate fields have little in common, our research team was drawn to the idea that a deep understanding of security and protective services may indeed be related to the desire to attend baseball games. The idea that an Associates degree in homeland security could in some way influence an individual's choice to attend a baseball game might sound far-fetched at first, but as we delved into the data, the strength of the correlation left us both surprised and amused. Undoubtedly, this inquiry not only blurs the boundaries between academically disparate fields but also adds an element of unexpected whimsy to the otherwise serious pursuit of understanding consumer behavior.
The Washington Nationals, as a case study, offer a particularly intriguing lens through which to explore this connection. As the team navigated its own ups and downs on the field, our research team wondered whether the ebb and flow of educational pursuits could be influenced by the team's performance. The idea that the fate of defending the nation could be linked to the success of a baseball team may seem comical, yet the statistical analysis presented in this paper points to a robust association that demands further investigation.
In the following sections, we will explicate the methodological approach used to analyze the datasets obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics and Baseball-Reference.com, followed by a detailed presentation of the findings. The implications of these unexpected connections will be discussed, shedding light on the tangled web of factors that influence attendance at major-league baseball games. While the nature of this association may raise an eyebrow or two, the statistical rigor of our analysis leaves little room for doubt about the strength of the correlation.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the data revealed a remarkably strong correlation between the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services and the ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Over the period of 2011 to 2019, a correlation coefficient of 0.9275452 was calculated, indicating a robust positive relationship between these seemingly disparate variables. The high r-squared value of 0.8603401 further underscores the substantial explanatory power of the relationship.
Furthermore, the p-value of less than 0.01 suggests that the observed correlation is statistically significant, providing confidence in the strength of the association. This finding prompts one to contemplate the intriguing possibility of individuals with expertise in homeland security and protective services being particularly inclined to attend baseball games, or perhaps even infusing a sense of vigilant security into the fan experience at the ballpark.
Figure 1 displays a scatterplot illustrating the strong positive correlation between the variables, visually capturing the compelling connection our analysis has unveiled.
These results not only showcase the unexpected bond between the education field and consumer behavior but also provide fodder for contemplation on the broader implications of such playful entanglements. The implications of these unforeseen connections will be expounded upon in the subsequent sections, adding a whimsically intriguing layer to the serious study of demand determinants for major-league baseball games.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, the robust correlation identified between the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services and the ticket sales for Washington Nationals games has left our research team simultaneously bemused and intrigued. The unexpectedly strong relationship between these disparate domains raises the question: do students of security have a penchant for a good old ball game, or does the presence of security experts somehow enhance the fan experience at the stadium? The statistical significance of the correlation coefficient, supported by the low p-value, speaks to the undeniable connection between these fields, prompting us to contemplate the whimsical dance of consumer behavior. The visually captivating scatterplot displayed in Figure 1 embodies the unlikely yet compelling link our analysis has brought to the forefront, adding a playful layer to the often earnest pursuit of understanding attendance determinants for major-league baseball games.

The implications of unraveling this unforeseen association extend well beyond the ballpark, nudging us to reflect on the peculiar interplay between seemingly incongruent domains. The strength of this correlation calls to mind the amusing possibility of security experts serving as the unsung guardians of America's pastime. The notion that the demand for Nationals games might be influenced by the educational pursuits of the populace adds a touch of quirky charm to the typically staid investigation of attendance drivers.

Based on the strength and statistical significance of our findings, we assert that further inquiry into this captivating connection is not necessary. The unexpected revelations of this study serve as a charming reminder of the whimsical complexities that underpin consumer behavior, leaving us with a lingering sense of mirthful wonderment at the delightful peculiarities of human preference.

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 Field of Schemes: The Correlation Between Associates Degrees in Homeland Security and Protective Services and Ticket Sales for Washington Nationals Games. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

Journal of Sports Economics and Security 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 Field of Schemes: The Correlation Between Associates Degrees in Homeland Security and Protective Services and Ticket Sales for Washington Nationals Games. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Center for Sports and Security Studies

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 Field of Schemes: The Correlation Between Associates Degrees in Homeland Security and Protective Services and Ticket Sales for Washington Nationals Games with an abstract of This paper examines the connection between the number of Associates degrees awarded in Homeland Security and Protective Services and the ticket sales for Washington Nationals games. Using comprehensive data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Baseball-Reference.com, our research team calculated a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9275452 with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the years 2011 to 2019. The findings suggest a remarkably strong relationship between individuals completing programs in homeland security and protective services and the demand for tickets to attend Washington Nationals games. The implications of these unexpected connections will be discussed in the paper, shedding light on the tangled web of factors that influence attendance at major league baseball games.

ChatGPT:

homeland security associate degree, protective services associate degree, Washington Nationals tickets sales, correlation between degrees and ticket sales, National Center for Education Statistics, Baseball-Reference.com, correlation coefficient, attendance at baseball games

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

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Data details

Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security
Detailed data title: Associate's degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions with a field of study of Homeland security and related protective services, other
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
See what else correlates with Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security

Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games
Detailed data title: Total tickets sold in home games for the Washington Nationals
Source: Baseball-Reference.com
See what else correlates with Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games

Correlation r = 0.9275452 (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 = 0.8603401 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 86% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security) over the 9 years from 2011 through 2019.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 0.00031.^Show 0.0003138884147964613000000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme.^Note More specifically the p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme if we had only tested one pair of variables one time.

But I am a p-villain. I absolutely did not test only one pair of variables one time. I correlated hundreds of millions of pairs of variables. I threw boatloads of data into an industrial-sized blender to find this correlation.

Who is going to stop me? p-value reporting doesn't require me to report how many calculations I had to go through in order to find a low p-value!
On average, you will find a correaltion as strong as 0.93 in 0.031% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 3,186 random variables^Note Which I absolutely did.
with the same 8 degrees of freedom, ^Note 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.

[ 0.69, 0.98 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
^{Read more about the confidence interval} The confidence interval is an estimate the range of the value of the correlation coefficient, using the correlation itself as an input. The values are meant to be the low and high end of the correlation coefficient with 95% confidence.

This one is a bit more complciated than the other calculations, but I include it because many people have been pushing for confidence intervals instead of p-value calculations (for example: NEJM. However, if you are dredging data, you can reliably find yourself in the 5%. That's my goal!

All values for the years included above: ^Note If I were being very sneaky, I could trim years from the beginning or end of the datasets to increase the correlation on some pairs of variables. I don't do that because there are already plenty of correlations in my database without monkeying with the years.

Still, sometimes one of the variables has more years of data available than the other. This page only shows the overlapping years. To see all the years, click on "See what else correlates with..." link above.

	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security (Degrees awarded)	136	365	510	492	440	375	402	382	379
Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games (Tickets sold)	1940480	2370790	2652420	2579390	2619840	2481940	2524980	2529600	2259780

Why this works

Data dredging: I have 25,153 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 632,673,409 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead abused the data to see what correlations shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random.
Lack of causal connection: There is probably^Note Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied.
Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A simple^Note Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.
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.
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. ^Note 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. ^{Show the steps to do this.} Step 1: Download and install Python on your computer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([136,365,510,492,440,375,402,382,379,])
array_2 = np.array([1940480,2370790,2652420,2579390,2619840,2481940,2524980,2529600,2259780,])
array_1_name = "Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security"
array_2_name = "Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games"

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

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

Reuseable content

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

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

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

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

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

Download images for these variables:

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

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

Alternatively you can use a tool like Inkscape.
High resolution line chart, optimized for mobile
Alternative high resolution line chart
Scatterplot
Portable line chart (png)
Portable line chart (png), optimized for mobile
Line chart for only Associates degrees awarded in Homeland security
Line chart for only Ticket sales for Washington Nationals games
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Field of Schemes: The Correlation Between Associates Degrees in Homeland Security and Protective Services and Ticket Sales for Washington Nationals Games

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Correlation ID: 2190 · Black Variable ID: 1239 · Red Variable ID: 4422


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