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Spurious correlation #2,363 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history and the second variable is Google searches for 'download firefox'.  The chart goes from 2012 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

As the number of Social sciences and history Bachelor's degrees awarded dropped, a shortage of people well-versed in internet history and the sociology of web browsers emerged. This led to a lack of appreciation for Firefox's groundbreaking role in the evolution of the internet. With fewer graduates able to engage in heated debates about the social impact of different browsers, the general interest in downloading Firefox dwindled. It seems the world needed more historians to ensure that Firefox's place in our digital past was not lost to the sands of time.

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate a surrealistic depiction of a graduation ceremony for Bachelor's degrees in Social sciences and history. Show students smiling proudly as they hold their diplomas. In the background, incorporate a surreal representation of a computer screen with the Google search page open, illustrating a significant decrease in searches for "download firefox" as more people transition to modern web browsers in line with changing academic trends. Ensure the scene remains visually simple yet captivating. The depiction should include only scenes, people, and objects, it should not include text or speech bubbles.
This image generation prompt was also generated by AI, using the following sequence:

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You select one of a few potential scene descriptors that seems to go along with the variables described. You respond only with the scene descriptions provided and say nothing else.
User prompt: Here are two variables: Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history and Google searches for 'download firefox'. 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: Photorealism Voxel art Scalar art Low poly Surrealism
ChatGPT: Surrealism

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated. You combine both variables into one scene.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that prominently depicts both Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history and Google searches for 'download firefox', in the following situation: As fewer people pursued social sciences and history degrees, there was a corresponding decrease in interest in outdated technologies like old-fashioned web browsers. This led to a decline in Google searches for "download firefox" as the new generation of scholars opted for more advanced and up-to-date internet surfing options instead of clinging to ancient software like Firefox. This sparked a major shift in the demographic of web browser users, with the academic community inadvertently influencing the technological preferences of the general population.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In the scene, we see a graduation ceremony where students are receiving their Bachelor's degrees in Social sciences and history. They are holding their diplomas and smiling proudly. In the background, we see a computer screen with the Google search page open, showing a significant decrease in searches for "download firefox" as more people are transitioning to modern web browsers in line with the changing academic trends.

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: [ Surrealism ] and depicting this scene: In the scene, we see a graduation ceremony where students are receiving their Bachelor's degrees in Social sciences and history. They are holding their diplomas and smiling proudly. In the background, we see a computer screen with the Google search page open, showing a significant decrease in searches for "download firefox" as more people are transitioning to modern web browsers in line with the changing academic trends. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate a surrealistic depiction of a graduation ceremony for Bachelor's degrees in Social sciences and history. Show students smiling proudly as they hold their diplomas. In the background, incorporate a surreal representation of a computer screen with the Google search page open, illustrating a significant decrease in searches for "download firefox" as more people transition to modern web browsers in line with changing academic trends. Ensure the scene remains visually simple yet captivating.

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

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

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how a decrease in Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history caused download firefox (Google searches for 'download firefox') to decrease. Make it feel plausible.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox'

Journal of Interdisciplinary Internet Studies

Jan 2024

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




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

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history and Google searches for 'download firefox'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Include a pun in the title.

Your research team used data from National Center for Education Statistics and Google Trends to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 and p < 0.01 for 2012 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]]
"Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the unexpected yet intriguing connection between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox." To shed light on this peculiar correlation, our research team embarked on a data-driven journey to uncover the underlying relationship between educational pursuits and web browser preferences.

By utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Google Trends, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the years spanning from 2012 to 2021. These robust statistical findings indicate a remarkably strong positive association between the two seemingly unrelated variables.

It appears that as the number of social sciences and history Bachelor's degrees conferred rises, so does the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox." Perhaps students studying history have a penchant for exploring the web using Mozilla's browser, leading to this intriguing correlation. This discovery not only adds a new dimension to the understanding of academic pursuits and online behavior but also serves as a reminder that even in the world of data analysis, unexpected connections can arise, much like a "history" pun in a research paper - they're both hard to resist!


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

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history and Google searches for 'download firefox'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the unexpected yet intriguing connection between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox." To shed light on this peculiar correlation, our research team embarked on a data-driven journey to uncover the underlying relationship between educational pursuits and web browser preferences.

By utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Google Trends, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the years spanning from 2012 to 2021. These robust statistical findings indicate a remarkably strong positive association between the two seemingly unrelated variables.

It appears that as the number of social sciences and history Bachelor's degrees conferred rises, so does the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox." Perhaps students studying history have a penchant for exploring the web using Mozilla's browser, leading to this intriguing correlation. This discovery not only adds a new dimension to the understanding of academic pursuits and online behavior but also serves as a reminder that even in the world of data analysis, unexpected connections can arise, much like a "history" pun in a research paper - they're both hard to resist!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

Welcome to a journey through the labyrinth of data, where the intersection of academic pursuits and digital habits takes center stage. In this paper, we explore a correlation so unexpected, it may make you say, "What browser are history students using? Internet Explorer the past?"

The internet is a vast repository of information, entertainment, and cat memes, but it also serves as a reflection of our collective interests and tendencies. As researchers, we are constantly on the lookout for connections that may seem outlandish at first glance, much like finding out that the history buff down the street is an avid user of "download Firefox."

You might be thinking, "What do Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history have to do with internet browsing habits?" Well, dear reader, buckle up, because this investigation is about to take you through a roller coaster of data analysis and correlations, with a sprinkle of historical puns along the way!


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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history and Google searches for 'download firefox'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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

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

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Then name some movies that you watched that are tangentially related to the topic.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the unexpected yet intriguing connection between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox." To shed light on this peculiar correlation, our research team embarked on a data-driven journey to uncover the underlying relationship between educational pursuits and web browser preferences.

By utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Google Trends, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the years spanning from 2012 to 2021. These robust statistical findings indicate a remarkably strong positive association between the two seemingly unrelated variables.

It appears that as the number of social sciences and history Bachelor's degrees conferred rises, so does the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox." Perhaps students studying history have a penchant for exploring the web using Mozilla's browser, leading to this intriguing correlation. This discovery not only adds a new dimension to the understanding of academic pursuits and online behavior but also serves as a reminder that even in the world of data analysis, unexpected connections can arise, much like a "history" pun in a research paper - they're both hard to resist!

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
Welcome to a journey through the labyrinth of data, where the intersection of academic pursuits and digital habits takes center stage. In this paper, we explore a correlation so unexpected, it may make you say, "What browser are history students using? Internet Explorer the past?"
The internet is a vast repository of information, entertainment, and cat memes, but it also serves as a reflection of our collective interests and tendencies. As researchers, we are constantly on the lookout for connections that may seem outlandish at first glance, much like finding out that the history buff down the street is an avid user of "download Firefox."
You might be thinking, "What do Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history have to do with internet browsing habits?" Well, dear reader, buckle up, because this investigation is about to take you through a roller coaster of data analysis and correlations, with a sprinkle of historical puns along the way!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

The literature on the relationship between educational achievements and online behaviors is rich and varied. Smith et al. (2015) delved into the factors influencing web browser preferences among different demographic groups, while Doe and Jones (2018) explored the implications of internet usage patterns on academic performance. However, none of these studies stumbled upon the peculiar correlation that our research team has uncovered between Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and Google searches for "download Firefox."

In "The Social Sciences: A Brief History," the authors find that the evolution of societal norms is often reflected in the academic pursuits of individuals, which could potentially extend to their online habits. Similarly, "A Concise History of Firefox" uncovers the journey of the iconic browser, shedding light on its enduring appeal and potential link to historical interests.

On the fictional front, "The Da Vinci Code" and "War and Peace" may not offer direct insights into web browsing habits, but their historical contexts certainly add an intriguing layer to our investigation. As for movies, "National Treasure" and "Back to the Future" may seem like unrelated choices, but their historical themes have given us some food for thought in our quest to unravel the enigmatic connection between Bachelor's degrees and "download Firefox" searches.

Now, before we continue, did you hear about the history major who got into a debate about which web browser to use? He said, "I'm all for exploring different perspectives. That's why I'm a Firefox explorer!"


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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history and Google searches for 'download firefox'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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

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

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the unexpected yet intriguing connection between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox." To shed light on this peculiar correlation, our research team embarked on a data-driven journey to uncover the underlying relationship between educational pursuits and web browser preferences.

By utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Google Trends, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the years spanning from 2012 to 2021. These robust statistical findings indicate a remarkably strong positive association between the two seemingly unrelated variables.

It appears that as the number of social sciences and history Bachelor's degrees conferred rises, so does the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox." Perhaps students studying history have a penchant for exploring the web using Mozilla's browser, leading to this intriguing correlation. This discovery not only adds a new dimension to the understanding of academic pursuits and online behavior but also serves as a reminder that even in the world of data analysis, unexpected connections can arise, much like a "history" pun in a research paper - they're both hard to resist!

[[INTRODUCTION]]
Welcome to a journey through the labyrinth of data, where the intersection of academic pursuits and digital habits takes center stage. In this paper, we explore a correlation so unexpected, it may make you say, "What browser are history students using? Internet Explorer the past?"
The internet is a vast repository of information, entertainment, and cat memes, but it also serves as a reflection of our collective interests and tendencies. As researchers, we are constantly on the lookout for connections that may seem outlandish at first glance, much like finding out that the history buff down the street is an avid user of "download Firefox."
You might be thinking, "What do Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history have to do with internet browsing habits?" Well, dear reader, buckle up, because this investigation is about to take you through a roller coaster of data analysis and correlations, with a sprinkle of historical puns along the way!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To uncover the tangled web of connections between Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and Google searches for "download Firefox," our research team worked tirelessly to devise a methodology as intricate as a historical espionage plot. We gathered data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Google Trends to weave together a narrative that would untangle the enigmatic relationship between academic pursuits and internet browsing preferences.

To kick off our investigation, we danced through the digital archives of the National Center for Education Statistics like a graceful browser window, retrieving the numbers of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history from the years 2012 to 2021. We then meticulously analyzed this data to detect any patterns that might point to a correlation with the ebb and flow of internet searches for Mozilla's beloved browser.

Our next step resembled a digital treasure hunt, as we delved into the Google Trends platform to unearth the search interest in "download Firefox" across the same time span. We navigated through the peaks and valleys of search volume data, akin to intrepid explorers charting uncharted territories, to reveal the fluctuations in public interest in this particular web browser.

With both sets of data in hand, we employed sophisticated statistical analyses to unravel the nature of the relationship between these disparate variables. We computed correlation coefficients and p-values with the diligence of historians piecing together ancient manuscripts, seeking to shed light on the strength and significance of the association between Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox."

In an effort to validate our findings and ensure the robustness of our results, we also performed sensitivity analyses, akin to conducting multiple experiments in the laboratory of data science. This comprehensive approach allowed us to strengthen the reliability of our conclusions and stand firmly behind the intriguing correlation we unearthed, much like the firm foundations of an ancient historical artifact.

Like curious investigators untangling a web of mysteries, we also ventured into subgroup analyses to explore potential variations in the observed correlation across different time periods and geographic regions. This approach, akin to studying divergent historical narratives, offered a nuanced understanding of how the relationship between academic degrees and internet searches may vary across diverse contexts.

With our quirky mix of data sleuthing, statistical analyses, and subgroup investigations, our research team unearthed a correlation so unexpected, it might just prompt a chuckle and a groan – much like a dad joke at a historical reenactment. Our methodological journey, though unconventional, has ultimately illuminated a fascinating intersection between academia and web browsing, leaving us with a newfound appreciation for the often surprising connections that lie beneath the surface of data.


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

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history and Google searches for 'download firefox'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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

For the time period 2012 to 2021, you found a correlation 0.9693901, r-squared of 0.9397171, 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]]
"Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the unexpected yet intriguing connection between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox." To shed light on this peculiar correlation, our research team embarked on a data-driven journey to uncover the underlying relationship between educational pursuits and web browser preferences.

By utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Google Trends, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the years spanning from 2012 to 2021. These robust statistical findings indicate a remarkably strong positive association between the two seemingly unrelated variables.

It appears that as the number of social sciences and history Bachelor's degrees conferred rises, so does the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox." Perhaps students studying history have a penchant for exploring the web using Mozilla's browser, leading to this intriguing correlation. This discovery not only adds a new dimension to the understanding of academic pursuits and online behavior but also serves as a reminder that even in the world of data analysis, unexpected connections can arise, much like a "history" pun in a research paper - they're both hard to resist!

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
Welcome to a journey through the labyrinth of data, where the intersection of academic pursuits and digital habits takes center stage. In this paper, we explore a correlation so unexpected, it may make you say, "What browser are history students using? Internet Explorer the past?"
The internet is a vast repository of information, entertainment, and cat memes, but it also serves as a reflection of our collective interests and tendencies. As researchers, we are constantly on the lookout for connections that may seem outlandish at first glance, much like finding out that the history buff down the street is an avid user of "download Firefox."
You might be thinking, "What do Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history have to do with internet browsing habits?" Well, dear reader, buckle up, because this investigation is about to take you through a roller coaster of data analysis and correlations, with a sprinkle of historical puns along the way!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The results of our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox" from 2012 to 2021. We also obtained an r-squared value of 0.9397171 and a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating an exceedingly strong positive association between the two variables. It seems that when it comes to history and web browsing, there's more than meets the eye - much like trying to navigate the confusing menus of Internet Explorer!

In support of our findings, we present a scatterplot depicting the relationship between the variables, as shown in Fig. 1. Ah, the joy of visualizing data and finding patterns – it’s almost as satisfying as telling a well-timed dad joke. This graph vividly illustrates the strong positive correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox," affirming the robustness of our statistical analysis.

Now, you might be wondering, "What's the historical significance of this correlation?" Well, it appears that students delving into the annals of history also find themselves delving into the virtual world with Firefox at their fingertips. Perhaps they're looking for a browser that can help them navigate the historical trenches of the internet. After all, someone's got to ensure that the history of the world wide web is well-documented, right?

In conclusion, our research highlights the fascinating relationship between academic pursuits and online behavior, shedding light on the unexpected bond between Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and the preference for "download Firefox." It invites us to rethink the ways in which our educational choices intersect with our digital inclinations, and perhaps even prompts us to reconsider our own browser preferences. Who knew that a passion for history would be so closely linked to clicking that "download" button? It seems that the history of web browsing is indeed a topic worth exploring, much like a good ol' dad joke - it never gets old, even if it’s a bit "dated"!


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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history and Google searches for 'download firefox'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

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

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

[[TITLE]]
"Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the unexpected yet intriguing connection between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox." To shed light on this peculiar correlation, our research team embarked on a data-driven journey to uncover the underlying relationship between educational pursuits and web browser preferences.

By utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Google Trends, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the years spanning from 2012 to 2021. These robust statistical findings indicate a remarkably strong positive association between the two seemingly unrelated variables.

It appears that as the number of social sciences and history Bachelor's degrees conferred rises, so does the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox." Perhaps students studying history have a penchant for exploring the web using Mozilla's browser, leading to this intriguing correlation. This discovery not only adds a new dimension to the understanding of academic pursuits and online behavior but also serves as a reminder that even in the world of data analysis, unexpected connections can arise, much like a "history" pun in a research paper - they're both hard to resist!

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
The literature on the relationship between educational achievements and online behaviors is rich and varied. Smith et al. (2015) delved into the factors influencing web browser preferences among different demographic groups, while Doe and Jones (2018) explored the implications of internet usage patterns on academic performance. However, none of these studies stumbled upon the peculiar correlation that our research team has uncovered between Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and Google searches for "download Firefox."
In "The Social Sciences: A Brief History," the authors find that the evolution of societal norms is often reflected in the academic pursuits of individuals, which could potentially extend to their online habits. Similarly, "A Concise History of Firefox" uncovers the journey of the iconic browser, shedding light on its enduring appeal and potential link to historical interests.
On the fictional front, "The Da Vinci Code" and "War and Peace" may not offer direct insights into web browsing habits, but their historical contexts certainly add an intriguing layer to our investigation. As for movies, "National Treasure" and "Back to the Future" may seem like unrelated choices, but their historical themes have given us some food for thought in our quest to unravel the enigmatic connection between Bachelor's degrees and "download Firefox" searches.
Now, before we continue, did you hear about the history major who got into a debate about which web browser to use? He said, "I'm all for exploring different perspectives. That's why I'm a Firefox explorer!"

[[RESULTS]]
The results of our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox" from 2012 to 2021. We also obtained an r-squared value of 0.9397171 and a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating an exceedingly strong positive association between the two variables. It seems that when it comes to history and web browsing, there's more than meets the eye - much like trying to navigate the confusing menus of Internet Explorer!
In support of our findings, we present a scatterplot depicting the relationship between the variables, as shown in Fig. 1. Ah, the joy of visualizing data and finding patterns – it’s almost as satisfying as telling a well-timed dad joke. This graph vividly illustrates the strong positive correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox," affirming the robustness of our statistical analysis.
Now, you might be wondering, "What's the historical significance of this correlation?" Well, it appears that students delving into the annals of history also find themselves delving into the virtual world with Firefox at their fingertips. Perhaps they're looking for a browser that can help them navigate the historical trenches of the internet. After all, someone's got to ensure that the history of the world wide web is well-documented, right?
In conclusion, our research highlights the fascinating relationship between academic pursuits and online behavior, shedding light on the unexpected bond between Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and the preference for "download Firefox." It invites us to rethink the ways in which our educational choices intersect with our digital inclinations, and perhaps even prompts us to reconsider our own browser preferences. Who knew that a passion for history would be so closely linked to clicking that "download" button? It seems that the history of web browsing is indeed a topic worth exploring, much like a good ol' dad joke - it never gets old, even if it’s a bit "dated"!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of our investigation have unveiled a compelling relationship between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and Google searches for "download Firefox." The stark positive correlation, as indicated by the high correlation coefficient and significant p-value, underscores a previously unnoticed connection between academic pursuits and online preferences. It seems that the quest for knowledge, whether historical or sociological, permeates not only textbooks but also the virtual realm. As we delved into this unexpected correlation, it became increasingly clear that our findings resonated with prior research, much like a well-timed dad joke at a family gathering.

Our study's alignment with prior research brings to light the influence of historical and sociological pursuits on online behavior. Smith et al.'s (2015) exploration of web browser preferences among demographic groups, for instance, offered insights into the interconnected nature of educational backgrounds and internet usage. Similarly, Doe and Jones (2018) shed light on the implications of online activities on academic performance, indirectly emphasizing the importance of understanding the intersection of academic pursuits and digital behavior. We've now added a new layer to this body of knowledge, much like uncovering a hidden historical artifact.

The linkage between Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and the preference for "download Firefox" is not merely a statistical oddity but a compelling revelation with potential implications. Our findings challenge the conventional boundaries between academic disciplines and digital habits, resonating with the historical context of societal norms and the enduring appeal of the iconic web browser. It seems that history and internet browsing share more than just a passing resemblance, much like a pun that "download Firefox" might have been the preferred option for browsing through the annals of time all along.

In wrapping up this discussion, it's clear that our research has shed light on a fascinating confluence of academic pursuits and online behavior. The unexpected correlation between Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and Google searches for "download Firefox" invites us to explore the nuanced interplay between education and digital inclinations. Indeed, it seems that history may not only inform the present and shape the future but also influence the virtual pathways we choose to navigate – much like a good ol' dad joke, it's history in the making!


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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history and Google searches for 'download firefox'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
"Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
In this paper, we delve into the unexpected yet intriguing connection between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox." To shed light on this peculiar correlation, our research team embarked on a data-driven journey to uncover the underlying relationship between educational pursuits and web browser preferences.

By utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Google Trends, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the years spanning from 2012 to 2021. These robust statistical findings indicate a remarkably strong positive association between the two seemingly unrelated variables.

It appears that as the number of social sciences and history Bachelor's degrees conferred rises, so does the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox." Perhaps students studying history have a penchant for exploring the web using Mozilla's browser, leading to this intriguing correlation. This discovery not only adds a new dimension to the understanding of academic pursuits and online behavior but also serves as a reminder that even in the world of data analysis, unexpected connections can arise, much like a "history" pun in a research paper - they're both hard to resist!

[[INTRDUCTION]]
Welcome to a journey through the labyrinth of data, where the intersection of academic pursuits and digital habits takes center stage. In this paper, we explore a correlation so unexpected, it may make you say, "What browser are history students using? Internet Explorer the past?"
The internet is a vast repository of information, entertainment, and cat memes, but it also serves as a reflection of our collective interests and tendencies. As researchers, we are constantly on the lookout for connections that may seem outlandish at first glance, much like finding out that the history buff down the street is an avid user of "download Firefox."
You might be thinking, "What do Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history have to do with internet browsing habits?" Well, dear reader, buckle up, because this investigation is about to take you through a roller coaster of data analysis and correlations, with a sprinkle of historical puns along the way!

[[RESULTS]]
The results of our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox" from 2012 to 2021. We also obtained an r-squared value of 0.9397171 and a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating an exceedingly strong positive association between the two variables. It seems that when it comes to history and web browsing, there's more than meets the eye - much like trying to navigate the confusing menus of Internet Explorer!
In support of our findings, we present a scatterplot depicting the relationship between the variables, as shown in Fig. 1. Ah, the joy of visualizing data and finding patterns – it’s almost as satisfying as telling a well-timed dad joke. This graph vividly illustrates the strong positive correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox," affirming the robustness of our statistical analysis.
Now, you might be wondering, "What's the historical significance of this correlation?" Well, it appears that students delving into the annals of history also find themselves delving into the virtual world with Firefox at their fingertips. Perhaps they're looking for a browser that can help them navigate the historical trenches of the internet. After all, someone's got to ensure that the history of the world wide web is well-documented, right?
In conclusion, our research highlights the fascinating relationship between academic pursuits and online behavior, shedding light on the unexpected bond between Bachelor's degrees in social sciences and history and the preference for "download Firefox." It invites us to rethink the ways in which our educational choices intersect with our digital inclinations, and perhaps even prompts us to reconsider our own browser preferences. Who knew that a passion for history would be so closely linked to clicking that "download" button? It seems that the history of web browsing is indeed a topic worth exploring, much like a good ol' dad joke - it never gets old, even if it’s a bit "dated"!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

As we wrap up our exploration into the unexpected correlation between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and Google searches for "download Firefox," it's clear that this surprising connection is more than just a historical footnote in the annals of data analysis. It seems that as students delve into the intricacies of the past, they also embark on a digital journey with Firefox as their trusty steed. This correlation leaves us pondering the age-old question: if a history student switches their browser, are they embarking on a "tabula rasa" of internet exploration?

Our findings open up new avenues for understanding the subtle influences of academic pursuits on online behavior, much like how a good pun can subtly infiltrate a serious discussion. The correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 stands as a testament to the remarkable bond between history degrees and Firefox searches, perhaps hinting at a shared appreciation for diving into rich, nuanced narratives - whether historical or digital.

As we close this chapter, let's remember that sometimes the most unexpected connections can yield fascinating insights, much like stumbling upon an easter egg in a video game. It's time to bid adieu to this peculiar pairing of academic degrees and web searches, leaving us with a newfound appreciation for the quirky and inexplicable connections that shape our digital era.

In the words of a wise, history-loving dad, "Remember, if your browser history is full of historical searches, you may be a 'history buff'!" With that said, it's safe to say that no further research is needed in this particular area - we've unearthed a historical treasure trove of correlation, and it's time to let it rest in peace!


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 Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox'. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

Journal of Interdisciplinary Internet 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 Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox'. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Digital Culture and Browser Preferences


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 Degrees of Surfin' History: The Correlation Between Social Sciences and History Bachelor's Degrees and Google Searches for 'Download Firefox' with an abstract of In this paper, we delve into the unexpected yet intriguing connection between the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and history and the Google searches for "download Firefox." To shed light on this peculiar correlation, our research team embarked on a data-driven journey to uncover the underlying relationship between educational pursuits and web browser preferences.
By utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Google Trends, we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.9693901 and a p-value of less than 0.01 for the years spanning from 2012 to 2021. These robust statistical findings indicate a remarkably strong positive association between the two seemingly unrelated variables.
It appears that as the number of social sciences and history Bachelor's degrees conferred rises, so does the frequency of Google searches for "download Firefox." Perhaps students studying history have a penchant for exploring the web using Mozilla's browser, leading to this intriguing correlation. This discovery not only adds a new dimension to the understanding of academic pursuits and online behavior but also serves as a reminder that even in the world of data analysis, unexpected connections can arise, much like a "history" pun in a research paper - they're both hard to resist!

ChatGPT:

Bachelor's degrees, social sciences, history, graduates, educational pursuits, web browser preferences, Google searches, download Firefox, correlation coefficient, p-value, National Center for Education Statistics, Google Trends, data analysis, online behavior, academic pursuits

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



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Data details

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

Google searches for 'download firefox'
Detailed data title: Relative volume of Google searches for 'download firefox' (Worldwide, without quotes)
Source: Google Trends
Additional Info: Relative search volume (not absolute numbers)

See what else correlates with Google searches for 'download firefox'

Correlation r = 0.9693901 (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 = 0.9397171 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 94% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Google searches for 'download firefox') is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history) over the 10 years from 2012 through 2021.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 3.7E-6. 0.0000037015513610417845000000
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 0.97 in 0.00037% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 270,157 random variables You don't actually need 270 thousand variables to find a correlation like this one. I don't have that many variables in my database. You can also correlate variables that are not independent. I do this a lot.

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

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

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

[ 0.87, 0.99 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
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.
2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history (Degrees awarded)178534177767173132166971161211159097159962160678161219160827
Google searches for 'download firefox' (Rel. search volume)43.166731.752519.83338.583337.833335.583334.666674.833334




Why this works

  1. Data dredging: I have 25,213 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 635,695,369 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead abused the data to see what correlations shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random.
  2. Lack of causal connection: There is probably Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
    no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied.
  3. Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A simple Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
    p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.
  4. Y-axis doesn't start at zero: I truncated the Y-axes of the graph above. I also used a line graph, which makes the visual connection stand out more than it deserves. Nothing against line graphs. They are great at telling a story when you have linear data! But visually it is deceptive because the only data is at the points on the graph, not the lines on the graph. In between each point, the data could have been doing anything. Like going for a random walk by itself!
    Mathematically what I showed is true, but it is intentionally misleading. Below is the same chart but with both Y-axes starting at zero.




Try it yourself

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([178534,177767,173132,166971,161211,159097,159962,160678,161219,160827,])
array_2 = np.array([43.1667,31.75,25,19.8333,8.58333,7.83333,5.58333,4.66667,4.83333,4,])
array_1_name = "Bachelor's degrees awarded in Social sciences and history"
array_2_name = "Google searches for 'download firefox'"

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

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



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

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

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

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Correlation ID: 2363 · Black Variable ID: 1292 · Red Variable ID: 1397
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