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Spurious correlation #2,888 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the second variable is Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon.  The chart goes from 1987 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

As motor vehicle thefts in Michigan decreased, there was a corresponding decrease in the demand for car parts. This led to a reduction in the illegal harvesting of trees in the Brazilian Amazon to make counterfeit car parts. Therefore, the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon decreased as a result of this unexpected connection. However, it's important to note that this explanation is purely fictional and not based on any actual evidence.

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Create an image of a serene forest scene with a bustling tourist market in the background. The harmonious atmosphere should represent Michigan's woods bustling with visitors seeking wooden souvenirs and furniture. Meanwhile, in stark contrast, depict the devastation of the Brazilian Amazon, with logging companies clearing trees, evoking a sense of the environmental impact caused by the increased demand for wooden products. 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: Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. Given these, which of the following image style descriptions seems most appropriate? Pick the one that seems to be related to one of the variables at hand. Please respond with only one of the following potential descriptions: A TIME magazine cover image Cyber folk High-tech Macabre Sci-fi fantacy
ChatGPT: A TIME magazine cover image

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 Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon, in the following situation: Because as motor vehicle thefts decreased in Michigan, car owners became less paranoid about their vehicles being stolen, leading them to take more adventurous road trips to explore the great outdoors. This increased tourism to the forests of Michigan, causing a surge in demand for wooden souvenirs and furniture made from Michigan's abundant hardwood trees. In order to meet this demand, logging companies turned to the Brazilian Amazon, leading to a decrease in remaining forest cover as they chopped down more trees to keep up with the demand.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In Michigan, fewer cars were being stolen. As a result, car owners felt safer and started venturing into the forests for road trips. Tourists flocked to the woods, creating a higher demand for wooden souvenirs and furniture made from Michigan's trees. To meet this demand, logging companies turned to the Brazilian Amazon, where they began cutting down trees, causing a decrease in the remaining forest cover.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You write and improve image generation prompts for DALLE-3. You maintain the same subjects, but enhance the visuals.
User prompt: Please respond with an image generation prompt that would be likely to create an interesting visual using DALLE-3, using the following style: [ A TIME magazine cover image ] and depicting this scene: In Michigan, fewer cars were being stolen. As a result, car owners felt safer and started venturing into the forests for road trips. Tourists flocked to the woods, creating a higher demand for wooden souvenirs and furniture made from Michigan's trees. To meet this demand, logging companies turned to the Brazilian Amazon, where they began cutting down trees, causing a decrease in the remaining forest cover. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Create an image of a serene forest scene with a bustling tourist market in the background. The harmonious atmosphere should represent Michigan's woods bustling with visitors seeking wooden souvenirs and furniture. Meanwhile, in stark contrast, depict the devastation of the Brazilian Amazon, with logging companies clearing trees, evoking a sense of the environmental impact caused by the increased demand for wooden products.

*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 Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan caused Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon to decrease.\Make it sound serious until the end.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon

The Journal of Ecological Entanglements

Jan 2024

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




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

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Make the title seem clever.

Your research team used data from FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 and p < 0.01 for 1987 to 2022.

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]]
"From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The relationship between environmental factors and crime rates has long been a topic of interest, but few have explored the quirky connection between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. In this paper, we delve into this unusual correlation, aiming to provide a data-driven analysis that's both informative and forest-rious.

Using data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, we conducted a rigorous investigation spanning the years 1987 to 2022. Our findings revealed a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 and p < 0.01, suggesting a strong association between the two seemingly unrelated variables. It seems that while cars were being stolen in the Motor City, trees were vanishing in the Amazon – talk about a transcontinental eco-crime saga in the making!

Our research highlights the complex interplay between societal behaviors and environmental changes, opening up avenues for further exploration and dad jokes galore. So, buckle up for a wild ride as we embark on this unconventional journey through the tangled web of forest cover and auto thefts. This study not only sheds light on this intriguing relationship but also leaves us pondering the age-old question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together?


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

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The relationship between environmental factors and crime rates has long been a topic of interest, but few have explored the quirky connection between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. In this paper, we delve into this unusual correlation, aiming to provide a data-driven analysis that's both informative and forest-rious.

Using data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, we conducted a rigorous investigation spanning the years 1987 to 2022. Our findings revealed a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 and p < 0.01, suggesting a strong association between the two seemingly unrelated variables. It seems that while cars were being stolen in the Motor City, trees were vanishing in the Amazon – talk about a transcontinental eco-crime saga in the making!

Our research highlights the complex interplay between societal behaviors and environmental changes, opening up avenues for further exploration and dad jokes galore. So, buckle up for a wild ride as we embark on this unconventional journey through the tangled web of forest cover and auto thefts. This study not only sheds light on this intriguing relationship but also leaves us pondering the age-old question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together?

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

When it comes to understanding crime and environmental patterns, scholars have often found themselves navigating uncharted territory, much like trying to find a clean lab coat in a research facility. Our study aims to shed light on the unexpected correlation between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. It's a pairing as surprising as combining statistical analysis with slapstick comedy – unexpected, yet strangely delightful.

As we dive into this research, one can't help but wonder: What do you call a stolen car in a forest? A missing link! Our investigation encompasses data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, allowing us to unveil the connection between two seemingly disparate phenomena. It’s enough to make any statistician do a double take and any serious researcher question their career choices.

The statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9521682, indicating a relationship so strong that it's almost as if the cars and trees were communicating through some sort of eco-telepathy. With a p-value of less than 0.01, our findings point to a significant association between the two variables, leaving us pondering the metaphysical question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together? It’s a philosophical quandary worthy of a late-night debate in a scientific conference.

The tale of motor vehicle thefts and vanishing forest cover reads like a classic mystery novel, except Sherlock Holmes would trade his magnifying glass for a spreadsheet and Dr. Watson would be muttering about the complexities of multivariate analysis instead of consulting the stars. This unexpected relationship between auto thefts and deforestation serves as a testament to the intricate dance between human behavior and environmental impact, leaving researchers simultaneously scratching their heads and appreciating the bizarre beauty of data patterns.

Our study not only presents an out-of-the-box approach to criminology and environmental studies but also navigates the terrain of humor and research with a GPS system set to "dad joke central." So, fasten your seatbelts as we embark on this research journey, where we attempt to unearth the mysteries of auto theft and ecological conservation – and perhaps a few more puns along the way.


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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. 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 cite some social media posts you read that seem to be related.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The relationship between environmental factors and crime rates has long been a topic of interest, but few have explored the quirky connection between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. In this paper, we delve into this unusual correlation, aiming to provide a data-driven analysis that's both informative and forest-rious.

Using data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, we conducted a rigorous investigation spanning the years 1987 to 2022. Our findings revealed a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 and p < 0.01, suggesting a strong association between the two seemingly unrelated variables. It seems that while cars were being stolen in the Motor City, trees were vanishing in the Amazon – talk about a transcontinental eco-crime saga in the making!

Our research highlights the complex interplay between societal behaviors and environmental changes, opening up avenues for further exploration and dad jokes galore. So, buckle up for a wild ride as we embark on this unconventional journey through the tangled web of forest cover and auto thefts. This study not only sheds light on this intriguing relationship but also leaves us pondering the age-old question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together?

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
When it comes to understanding crime and environmental patterns, scholars have often found themselves navigating uncharted territory, much like trying to find a clean lab coat in a research facility. Our study aims to shed light on the unexpected correlation between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. It's a pairing as surprising as combining statistical analysis with slapstick comedy – unexpected, yet strangely delightful.
As we dive into this research, one can't help but wonder: What do you call a stolen car in a forest? A missing link! Our investigation encompasses data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, allowing us to unveil the connection between two seemingly disparate phenomena. It’s enough to make any statistician do a double take and any serious researcher question their career choices.
The statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9521682, indicating a relationship so strong that it's almost as if the cars and trees were communicating through some sort of eco-telepathy. With a p-value of less than 0.01, our findings point to a significant association between the two variables, leaving us pondering the metaphysical question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together? It’s a philosophical quandary worthy of a late-night debate in a scientific conference.
The tale of motor vehicle thefts and vanishing forest cover reads like a classic mystery novel, except Sherlock Holmes would trade his magnifying glass for a spreadsheet and Dr. Watson would be muttering about the complexities of multivariate analysis instead of consulting the stars. This unexpected relationship between auto thefts and deforestation serves as a testament to the intricate dance between human behavior and environmental impact, leaving researchers simultaneously scratching their heads and appreciating the bizarre beauty of data patterns.
Our study not only presents an out-of-the-box approach to criminology and environmental studies but also navigates the terrain of humor and research with a GPS system set to "dad joke central." So, fasten your seatbelts as we embark on this research journey, where we attempt to unearth the mysteries of auto theft and ecological conservation – and perhaps a few more puns along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

Previous research has explored the complex interplay between environmental factors and crime rates, but few have delved into the quirky correlation between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. Smith et al. (2015) discuss the environmental and social impacts of deforestation, while Doe and Jones (2018) investigate the socioeconomic determinants of motor vehicle thefts. These studies lay the groundwork for our exploration of the unexpected relationship between these two seemingly unrelated phenomena.

Speaking of unexpected relationships, have you heard the joke about the car thief who tried to steal a tree? He thought he'd make a clean getaway, but his plan wood-n't work! The connection between stolen cars and disappearing trees may seem far-fetched, but our findings suggest otherwise.

In "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss, the author draws attention to the importance of environmental conservation, albeit in a whimsical and rhyming manner. Similarly, "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown explores the mysteries surrounding hidden symbols, serving as a metaphor for the enigmatic connection between auto thefts and deforestation.

And speaking of hidden symbols, consider this profound insight from a Twitter user: "If a car is stolen in Michigan, and a tree falls in the Amazon, does Mother Nature file a joint complaint?" It seems that even social media musings can offer thought-provoking perspectives on this unusual correlation.

Moreover, real-world observations have led us to ponder the correlation further, "If someone steals a car in Detroit, does a tree lose its leaves in the Amazon? #AutoTheftEcology" tweeted an environmental activist. These diverse sources of information have contributed to our comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between motor vehicle thefts and forest cover, reminding us that inspiration – and a good pun – can stem from unexpected places.

But let's not leaf out the serious research. Stay tuned for the data-driven analysis ahead, where we explore this unconventional relationship with all the seriousness of a comedy sketch about crime and environmental impact. Just remember, when it comes to unexpected correlations, don't bark up the wrong tree – there's always room for a good dad joke in the wild world of academia.


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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay . You used data from 1987 to 2022

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]]
"From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The relationship between environmental factors and crime rates has long been a topic of interest, but few have explored the quirky connection between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. In this paper, we delve into this unusual correlation, aiming to provide a data-driven analysis that's both informative and forest-rious.

Using data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, we conducted a rigorous investigation spanning the years 1987 to 2022. Our findings revealed a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 and p < 0.01, suggesting a strong association between the two seemingly unrelated variables. It seems that while cars were being stolen in the Motor City, trees were vanishing in the Amazon – talk about a transcontinental eco-crime saga in the making!

Our research highlights the complex interplay between societal behaviors and environmental changes, opening up avenues for further exploration and dad jokes galore. So, buckle up for a wild ride as we embark on this unconventional journey through the tangled web of forest cover and auto thefts. This study not only sheds light on this intriguing relationship but also leaves us pondering the age-old question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together?

[[INTRODUCTION]]
When it comes to understanding crime and environmental patterns, scholars have often found themselves navigating uncharted territory, much like trying to find a clean lab coat in a research facility. Our study aims to shed light on the unexpected correlation between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. It's a pairing as surprising as combining statistical analysis with slapstick comedy – unexpected, yet strangely delightful.
As we dive into this research, one can't help but wonder: What do you call a stolen car in a forest? A missing link! Our investigation encompasses data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, allowing us to unveil the connection between two seemingly disparate phenomena. It’s enough to make any statistician do a double take and any serious researcher question their career choices.
The statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9521682, indicating a relationship so strong that it's almost as if the cars and trees were communicating through some sort of eco-telepathy. With a p-value of less than 0.01, our findings point to a significant association between the two variables, leaving us pondering the metaphysical question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together? It’s a philosophical quandary worthy of a late-night debate in a scientific conference.
The tale of motor vehicle thefts and vanishing forest cover reads like a classic mystery novel, except Sherlock Holmes would trade his magnifying glass for a spreadsheet and Dr. Watson would be muttering about the complexities of multivariate analysis instead of consulting the stars. This unexpected relationship between auto thefts and deforestation serves as a testament to the intricate dance between human behavior and environmental impact, leaving researchers simultaneously scratching their heads and appreciating the bizarre beauty of data patterns.
Our study not only presents an out-of-the-box approach to criminology and environmental studies but also navigates the terrain of humor and research with a GPS system set to "dad joke central." So, fasten your seatbelts as we embark on this research journey, where we attempt to unearth the mysteries of auto theft and ecological conservation – and perhaps a few more puns along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To uncover the hitherto untold story of the flirtatious dance between car thefts in Michigan and the fate of trees in the Brazilian Amazon, our research team concocted a blend of analytical methods reminiscent of a mad scientist's potion. First, we gathered data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, obtaining a treasure trove of auto theft reports from 1987 to 2022. If only catching car thieves were as easy as catching Pokémon! We also turned to Mongabay for the forest cover data, plotting the creaking footsteps of deforestation amidst the lush greenery of the Amazon, where trees seem to disappear faster than our hopes of deciphering this unlikely correlation.

We approached the data with the meticulousness of an entomologist inspecting ant colonies, employing complex statistical analyses that left us feeling as perplexed as a physicist trying to explain quantum mechanics to a toddler. Our journey through the labyrinthine landscape of regression analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multivariate modeling resembled a daring expedition into the heart of statistical darkness – with plenty of near-misses and dramatic revelations along the way.

Once the dust settled and the smoke from our overheated statistical software cleared, we emerged victorious with a correlation coefficient of 0.9521682, as robust and unyielding as a scientist's insistence on using the metric system. The p-value of less than 0.01 spoke volumes, presenting evidence of a link so undeniable, it would give a detective investigating a classic whodunit a run for their money. It appears that the car thieves in Michigan and the Amazonian tree-sappers were engaged in a clandestine game of transcontinental cat and mouse, though we're pretty sure the trees weren't the ones doing the purring.

In addition to the quantitative analyses, we dabbled in the art of qualitative research, poring over news articles and environmental reports to unearth anecdotal evidence of forest crimes and car capers. If only Sherlock Holmes had access to our arsenal of data, he might have quipped, "It's elementary, my dear Watson – the thieves are revving their engines in Motor City while the trees are leafing the scene in the Amazon!"

Finally, we employed the age-old tradition of brainstorming sessions, during which we debated the merits of our findings and speculated on the ecological and criminological implications of this fascinating correlation. Our deliberations were as animated as a group of physicists arguing about the nature of dark matter, with just as many head-scratching moments and moments of revelation.

The combination of these methods allowed us to peel back the layers of this enigmatic relationship, revealing a bond more intriguing than a complex chemical compound and more surprising than a physicist moonlighting as a stand-up comedian. So, brace yourselves – the results of our data archaeology are about to be unveiled, and they're more captivating than a magic show at a statistics convention.


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

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay .

For the time period 1987 to 2022, you found a correlation 0.9521682, r-squared of 0.9066243, 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]]
"From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The relationship between environmental factors and crime rates has long been a topic of interest, but few have explored the quirky connection between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. In this paper, we delve into this unusual correlation, aiming to provide a data-driven analysis that's both informative and forest-rious.

Using data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, we conducted a rigorous investigation spanning the years 1987 to 2022. Our findings revealed a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 and p < 0.01, suggesting a strong association between the two seemingly unrelated variables. It seems that while cars were being stolen in the Motor City, trees were vanishing in the Amazon – talk about a transcontinental eco-crime saga in the making!

Our research highlights the complex interplay between societal behaviors and environmental changes, opening up avenues for further exploration and dad jokes galore. So, buckle up for a wild ride as we embark on this unconventional journey through the tangled web of forest cover and auto thefts. This study not only sheds light on this intriguing relationship but also leaves us pondering the age-old question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together?

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
When it comes to understanding crime and environmental patterns, scholars have often found themselves navigating uncharted territory, much like trying to find a clean lab coat in a research facility. Our study aims to shed light on the unexpected correlation between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. It's a pairing as surprising as combining statistical analysis with slapstick comedy – unexpected, yet strangely delightful.
As we dive into this research, one can't help but wonder: What do you call a stolen car in a forest? A missing link! Our investigation encompasses data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, allowing us to unveil the connection between two seemingly disparate phenomena. It’s enough to make any statistician do a double take and any serious researcher question their career choices.
The statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9521682, indicating a relationship so strong that it's almost as if the cars and trees were communicating through some sort of eco-telepathy. With a p-value of less than 0.01, our findings point to a significant association between the two variables, leaving us pondering the metaphysical question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together? It’s a philosophical quandary worthy of a late-night debate in a scientific conference.
The tale of motor vehicle thefts and vanishing forest cover reads like a classic mystery novel, except Sherlock Holmes would trade his magnifying glass for a spreadsheet and Dr. Watson would be muttering about the complexities of multivariate analysis instead of consulting the stars. This unexpected relationship between auto thefts and deforestation serves as a testament to the intricate dance between human behavior and environmental impact, leaving researchers simultaneously scratching their heads and appreciating the bizarre beauty of data patterns.
Our study not only presents an out-of-the-box approach to criminology and environmental studies but also navigates the terrain of humor and research with a GPS system set to "dad joke central." So, fasten your seatbelts as we embark on this research journey, where we attempt to unearth the mysteries of auto theft and ecological conservation – and perhaps a few more puns along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The analysis of the collected data revealed a strong correlation between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. The correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 depicts a robust relationship between these two seemingly unrelated variables. It's as if the stolen cars and disappearing trees were in cahoots, plotting the ultimate environmental heist – talk about a forest and furious situation!

The r-squared value of 0.9066243 further confirms that approximately 90.66% of the variability in motor vehicle thefts can be explained by the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. That's quite a high explanatory power for a connection that's as unexpected as finding a tree-climbing car thief.

Moreover, the p-value of less than 0.01 indicates a statistically significant association between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. It's as if the cars were revving up for a forest joyride, and the trees couldn't help but leaf the scene.

Fig. 1 displays a scatterplot illustrating the tight relationship between the two variables. It's a chart so compelling that it might just convince even the most skeptical statistician to branch out into environmental criminology.


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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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]]
"From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The relationship between environmental factors and crime rates has long been a topic of interest, but few have explored the quirky connection between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. In this paper, we delve into this unusual correlation, aiming to provide a data-driven analysis that's both informative and forest-rious.

Using data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, we conducted a rigorous investigation spanning the years 1987 to 2022. Our findings revealed a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 and p < 0.01, suggesting a strong association between the two seemingly unrelated variables. It seems that while cars were being stolen in the Motor City, trees were vanishing in the Amazon – talk about a transcontinental eco-crime saga in the making!

Our research highlights the complex interplay between societal behaviors and environmental changes, opening up avenues for further exploration and dad jokes galore. So, buckle up for a wild ride as we embark on this unconventional journey through the tangled web of forest cover and auto thefts. This study not only sheds light on this intriguing relationship but also leaves us pondering the age-old question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together?

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
Previous research has explored the complex interplay between environmental factors and crime rates, but few have delved into the quirky correlation between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. Smith et al. (2015) discuss the environmental and social impacts of deforestation, while Doe and Jones (2018) investigate the socioeconomic determinants of motor vehicle thefts. These studies lay the groundwork for our exploration of the unexpected relationship between these two seemingly unrelated phenomena.
Speaking of unexpected relationships, have you heard the joke about the car thief who tried to steal a tree? He thought he'd make a clean getaway, but his plan wood-n't work! The connection between stolen cars and disappearing trees may seem far-fetched, but our findings suggest otherwise.
In "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss, the author draws attention to the importance of environmental conservation, albeit in a whimsical and rhyming manner. Similarly, "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown explores the mysteries surrounding hidden symbols, serving as a metaphor for the enigmatic connection between auto thefts and deforestation.
And speaking of hidden symbols, consider this profound insight from a Twitter user: "If a car is stolen in Michigan, and a tree falls in the Amazon, does Mother Nature file a joint complaint?" It seems that even social media musings can offer thought-provoking perspectives on this unusual correlation.
Moreover, real-world observations have led us to ponder the correlation further, "If someone steals a car in Detroit, does a tree lose its leaves in the Amazon? #AutoTheftEcology" tweeted an environmental activist. These diverse sources of information have contributed to our comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between motor vehicle thefts and forest cover, reminding us that inspiration – and a good pun – can stem from unexpected places.
But let's not leaf out the serious research. Stay tuned for the data-driven analysis ahead, where we explore this unconventional relationship with all the seriousness of a comedy sketch about crime and environmental impact. Just remember, when it comes to unexpected correlations, don't bark up the wrong tree – there's always room for a good dad joke in the wild world of academia.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the collected data revealed a strong correlation between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. The correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 depicts a robust relationship between these two seemingly unrelated variables. It's as if the stolen cars and disappearing trees were in cahoots, plotting the ultimate environmental heist – talk about a forest and furious situation!
The r-squared value of 0.9066243 further confirms that approximately 90.66% of the variability in motor vehicle thefts can be explained by the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. That's quite a high explanatory power for a connection that's as unexpected as finding a tree-climbing car thief.
Moreover, the p-value of less than 0.01 indicates a statistically significant association between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. It's as if the cars were revving up for a forest joyride, and the trees couldn't help but leaf the scene.
Fig. 1 displays a scatterplot illustrating the tight relationship between the two variables. It's a chart so compelling that it might just convince even the most skeptical statistician to branch out into environmental criminology.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

Our findings not only reaffirm prior research but also unveil the forested secrets behind the enigmatic dance of auto thefts and Amazonian trees. The strong correlation coefficient and the r-squared value of 0.9521682 and 0.9066243, respectively, further buttress the evidence of a close-knit relationship between these disparate variables. It's as if the stolen cars and vanishing forests were performing a vehicular deforestation ballet – a real car-jam in the dense foliage, if you will.

The statistical significance highlighted by the p-value of less than 0.01 solidifies the robustness of our results. It's like the statistical gods are nodding in agreement, acknowledging the noteworthy link between Michigan's car thefts and the Amazon's arboreal losses. In the world of statistics, this kind of significance is rarer than a humblebrag from a shy data set.

Our study also aligns with the prior research that explored the intertwined relationship between environmental changes and societal behavior. It seems that when it comes to crime and trees, the connection goes deeper than root canals in a dense forest. But hey, you know what they say – sometimes the most unexpected correlations sprout from the unlikeliest of statistical soil.

Moreover, the reminiscent tone of "The Lorax" and the cryptic allure of "The Da Vinci Code" reflected in the literature review have proven to be surprisingly relevant. Our findings sycamore than substantiate the offbeat connections hinted at in these literary musings. It's as if the humor-laden pages of "The Lorax" whispered hidden truths about the secret lives of stolen cars and forest cover, evoking a chuckle from even the most serious of researchers. And just like the cryptic symbols in "The Da Vinci Code," the relationship between car thefts and deforestation continues to reveal its compelling and captivating nature. It's almost as if the forest and the furious are working hand in hand – or should we say, root in wheel?

So, as we conclude this scholarly expedition into the unsuspecting connections between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon, let's remember that in the world of research, the most unexpected relationships can branch out into groundbreaking discoveries. And hey, if you're ever feeling stumped about finding a research topic, just remember: sometimes the best ideas are hidden in the forest – or behind the wheel of a stolen car!


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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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]]
"From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The relationship between environmental factors and crime rates has long been a topic of interest, but few have explored the quirky connection between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. In this paper, we delve into this unusual correlation, aiming to provide a data-driven analysis that's both informative and forest-rious.

Using data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, we conducted a rigorous investigation spanning the years 1987 to 2022. Our findings revealed a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 and p < 0.01, suggesting a strong association between the two seemingly unrelated variables. It seems that while cars were being stolen in the Motor City, trees were vanishing in the Amazon – talk about a transcontinental eco-crime saga in the making!

Our research highlights the complex interplay between societal behaviors and environmental changes, opening up avenues for further exploration and dad jokes galore. So, buckle up for a wild ride as we embark on this unconventional journey through the tangled web of forest cover and auto thefts. This study not only sheds light on this intriguing relationship but also leaves us pondering the age-old question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together?

[[INTRDUCTION]]
When it comes to understanding crime and environmental patterns, scholars have often found themselves navigating uncharted territory, much like trying to find a clean lab coat in a research facility. Our study aims to shed light on the unexpected correlation between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. It's a pairing as surprising as combining statistical analysis with slapstick comedy – unexpected, yet strangely delightful.
As we dive into this research, one can't help but wonder: What do you call a stolen car in a forest? A missing link! Our investigation encompasses data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, allowing us to unveil the connection between two seemingly disparate phenomena. It’s enough to make any statistician do a double take and any serious researcher question their career choices.
The statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.9521682, indicating a relationship so strong that it's almost as if the cars and trees were communicating through some sort of eco-telepathy. With a p-value of less than 0.01, our findings point to a significant association between the two variables, leaving us pondering the metaphysical question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together? It’s a philosophical quandary worthy of a late-night debate in a scientific conference.
The tale of motor vehicle thefts and vanishing forest cover reads like a classic mystery novel, except Sherlock Holmes would trade his magnifying glass for a spreadsheet and Dr. Watson would be muttering about the complexities of multivariate analysis instead of consulting the stars. This unexpected relationship between auto thefts and deforestation serves as a testament to the intricate dance between human behavior and environmental impact, leaving researchers simultaneously scratching their heads and appreciating the bizarre beauty of data patterns.
Our study not only presents an out-of-the-box approach to criminology and environmental studies but also navigates the terrain of humor and research with a GPS system set to "dad joke central." So, fasten your seatbelts as we embark on this research journey, where we attempt to unearth the mysteries of auto theft and ecological conservation – and perhaps a few more puns along the way.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the collected data revealed a strong correlation between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. The correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 depicts a robust relationship between these two seemingly unrelated variables. It's as if the stolen cars and disappearing trees were in cahoots, plotting the ultimate environmental heist – talk about a forest and furious situation!
The r-squared value of 0.9066243 further confirms that approximately 90.66% of the variability in motor vehicle thefts can be explained by the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. That's quite a high explanatory power for a connection that's as unexpected as finding a tree-climbing car thief.
Moreover, the p-value of less than 0.01 indicates a statistically significant association between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. It's as if the cars were revving up for a forest joyride, and the trees couldn't help but leaf the scene.
Fig. 1 displays a scatterplot illustrating the tight relationship between the two variables. It's a chart so compelling that it might just convince even the most skeptical statistician to branch out into environmental criminology.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our research has unearthed a forest-ifying relationship between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. The correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 certainly raises eyebrows and even elicits a few eco-puns – it’s a tree-mendous discovery! Our findings suggest that while cars were disappearing in the Motor City, trees were making a swift exit in the Amazon. It’s enough to make Mother Nature do a double-take and wonder if she left the lawn mower running.

The high explanatory power, with an r-squared value of 0.9066243, signals that approximately 90.66% of the variability in motor vehicle thefts can be explained by the remaining forest cover in the Amazon. That's a statistical feat impressive enough to make a data scientist sprout a few tree-related jokes at the next conference.

The statistically significant association, with a p-value of less than 0.01, makes it clear that the connection between these two variables is no mere statistical fluke. It's like witnessing a crime scene where the stolen cars are the prime suspects, and the forests are eager accomplices trying to shrub the evidence.

With this tree-mendous correlation at the heart of our findings, we firmly conclude that no more research is needed in this novel area of eco-crime investigations. It’s as clear as a deforested landscape – the bond between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon is solid as an oak. So, let’s leaf this research to rest and drive off into new scientific frontiers without looking back, just like a car thief in the night.


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 From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Ecological Entanglements


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 From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

Sustainable Solutions Research Institute


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 From Motor City to the Amazon: A Cross-Continental Study on the Relationship between Motor Vehicle Thefts in Michigan and Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon with an abstract of The relationship between environmental factors and crime rates has long been a topic of interest, but few have explored the quirky connection between motor vehicle thefts in Michigan and the remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. In this paper, we delve into this unusual correlation, aiming to provide a data-driven analysis that's both informative and forest-rious.
Using data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services and Mongabay, we conducted a rigorous investigation spanning the years 1987 to 2022. Our findings revealed a substantial correlation coefficient of 0.9521682 and p < 0.01, suggesting a strong association between the two seemingly unrelated variables. It seems that while cars were being stolen in the Motor City, trees were vanishing in the Amazon – talk about a transcontinental eco-crime saga in the making!
Our research highlights the complex interplay between societal behaviors and environmental changes, opening up avenues for further exploration and dad jokes galore. So, buckle up for a wild ride as we embark on this unconventional journey through the tangled web of forest cover and auto thefts. This study not only sheds light on this intriguing relationship but also leaves us pondering the age-old question: If a car is stolen in Michigan and a tree falls in the Amazon, do they make a sound together?

ChatGPT:

motor vehicle thefts, forest cover, environmental factors, crime rates, correlation analysis, FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, Mongabay, environmental changes, societal behaviors

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



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Data details

Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan
Detailed data title: The motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents in Michigan
Source: FBI Criminal Justice Information Services
See what else correlates with Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan

Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon
Detailed data title: Estimated Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon
Source: Mongabay
See what else correlates with Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon

Correlation r = 0.9521682 (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 = 0.9066243 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 90.7% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan) over the 36 years from 1987 through 2022.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 4.4E-19. 0.0000000000000000004436454040
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 0.95 in 4.4E-17% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 2,254,052,427,870,976,000 random variables You don't actually need 2 quintillion 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 35 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 35 because we have two variables measured over a period of 36 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.

[ 0.91, 0.98 ] 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.
198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan (Motor Vehicle Theft rate)752741.1722.6713.7679.7625.8615656.1645.5700.5668.4594.3575.8560.7535.7495.1532.7500.6477.9496.2416.9357.4294.3277.5252.2253.8243.3214189.5204196.4175178.7184.5215.7267.2
Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon (Sq. KM)374457037235203705750369202036809903667200365231036374103608350359019035769603559580354232035241003505930348428034588803431110341210033978103386160337325033657903358790335237033478003341910333690033306903322800331585033083103298550329012032796503268050




Why this works

  1. Data dredging: I have 25,153 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 632,673,409 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead abused the data to see what correlations shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random.
  2. Lack of causal connection: There is probably Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
    no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied.
  3. Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A simple Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
    p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.
  4. 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([752,741.1,722.6,713.7,679.7,625.8,615,656.1,645.5,700.5,668.4,594.3,575.8,560.7,535.7,495.1,532.7,500.6,477.9,496.2,416.9,357.4,294.3,277.5,252.2,253.8,243.3,214,189.5,204,196.4,175,178.7,184.5,215.7,267.2,])
array_2 = np.array([3744570,3723520,3705750,3692020,3680990,3667200,3652310,3637410,3608350,3590190,3576960,3559580,3542320,3524100,3505930,3484280,3458880,3431110,3412100,3397810,3386160,3373250,3365790,3358790,3352370,3347800,3341910,3336900,3330690,3322800,3315850,3308310,3298550,3290120,3279650,3268050,])
array_1_name = "Motor vehicle thefts in Michigan"
array_2_name = "Remaining Forest Cover in the Brazilian Amazon"

# 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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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."

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Correlation ID: 2888 · Black Variable ID: 20141 · Red Variable ID: 372
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