Spurious correlation #4,866 · View random
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme and the second variable is Google searches for 'Tamagotchi'. The chart goes from 2008 to 2023, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme and the second variable is Google searches for 'Tamagotchi'. The chart goes from 2008 to 2023, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

AI explanation

As the pork and beans meme fizzled out, it took with it the ham-petition for internet real estate, leaving Tamagotchi searches feeling a bit shell-shocked.

^{Show image generation prompt} Create a meme inspired by the pork and beans meme that in some way references Google searches for 'Tamagotchi'. Try to emulate the style of the meme - don’t violate the copyright, just make it look and feel like the original meme.

This image generation prompt was also generated by AI, using the following sequence:

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

I sequence the requests into multiple prompts because I find GPT 3.5 to perform much better with short, well-managed contexts. Thus, I track the context directly in Python and only ask ChatGPT targeted questions.
^{Show prompt for explanation} Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how a decrease in Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme caused Tamagotchi (Google searches for 'Tamagotchi') to decrease. Include one good pun.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Pigging Out on Digital Nostalgia: Exploring the Correlation Between the 'Pork and Beans' Meme and Google Searches for 'Tamagotchi'

Journal of Internet Culture Studies

Jan 2024

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

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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme and Google searches for 'Tamagotchi'. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Perhaps you also got inspiration from some board games that are vaugely related.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Pigging Out on Digital Nostalgia: Exploring the Correlation Between the 'Pork and Beans' Meme and Google Searches for 'Tamagotchi'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the widespread appeal of the "pork and beans" meme and the search interest in the iconic virtual pet, Tamagotchi, using data from Google Trends. Through rigorous statistical examination, we have established a clear correlation between the popularity of the meme and the frequency of searches for the virtual pet. The correlation coefficient of 0.8456087, with p < 0.01, for the period of 2008 to 2023 indicates a strong positive relationship. Our findings suggest that online trends and digital nostalgia have a significant impact on user behavior and information retrieval, revealing unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated cultural phenomena. As we playfully delve into the curious intertwining of pork products and virtual pets, our research sheds light on the whimsical and unpredictable nature of internet culture and its influence on search patterns.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The internet is a strange and wonderful place, where the peculiar and the profound often collide in unexpected ways. In this research paper, we meticulously unpack the enigmatic connection between the "pork and beans" meme and the perennially popular virtual pet, Tamagotchi. While some may dismiss this correlation as mere happenstance, our findings reveal a surprisingly robust association that has perplexed even the most seasoned researchers in the field.
The rise of internet memes has transformed the digital landscape, shaping the way we communicate, express emotions, and perpetuate inside jokes across the virtual realm. From grumpy cats to dramatic prairie dogs, memes have an uncanny ability to capture the collective imagination and propagate like wildfire. The "pork and beans" meme, featuring a piglet nestled amongst a palatable pile of legumes, has garnered its fair share of attention in the vast meme-scape. Its infectious charm and inexplicable allure have left many pondering its enduring appeal.
Meanwhile, the Tamagotchi, an electronic pet simulation device that captured the hearts of 90s kids and digital enthusiasts alike, continues to cultivate a dedicated fan base. Despite the passage of time, this virtual pet persists in tantalizing our nostalgic sensibilities, beckoning us to relive the bygone era of pixelated companionship. The unexpected resurgence of interest in Tamagotchi has raised eyebrows and prompted inquiries into the factors driving this phenomenon.
Armed with a spirit of curiosity and a penchant for uncovering the peculiar, we embarked on a quest to unravel the mysteries of internet culture and its influence on user behavior. As we immersed ourselves in the esoteric world of memes and virtual pets, we found ourselves pleasantly surprised by the robust correlation between the "pork and beans" meme and Google searches for Tamagotchi. With statistical rigor and a hint of whimsy, we set out to demystify this peculiar connection and shed light on the quirky interplay of online trends and nostalgia.
In the following sections, we delve into the intricacies of our methodology, presenting our data-driven approach to deciphering this unlikely alliance between pork products and digital pets. Through rigorous analysis and lighthearted exploration, we invite readers to join us on this academic escapade into the whimsical realm of internet culture, where unexpected correlations and unlikely bedfellows await their moment in the scientific spotlight.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

The notion of unexpected correlations and inexplicable affinities has long intrigued scholars across various disciplines. Smith et al. (2015) illuminated the serendipitous convergence of seemingly unrelated cultural artifacts in their seminal work on "Linguistic Patterns in Internet Subculture." The authors uncovered surprising parallels between online memes and traditional modes of linguistic expression, prompting a reevaluation of the interplay between internet culture and linguistic evolution.

Doe and Jones (2018) further delved into the phenomenon of digital nostalgia and its impact on contemporary user behavior in "The Psychology of Nostalgia in the Digital Age." Their comprehensive analysis elucidated the emotional resonance of retro digital artifacts, revealing how nostalgia shapes consumer preferences and online engagement. The interweaving of past and present in virtual spaces emerged as a salient theme in their exploration of digital nostalgia, setting the stage for our investigation into the infectious appeal of the "pork and beans" meme and its surprising link to Tamagotchi.

Turning to pertinent non-fiction works, "The Digital Zeitgeist: Unraveling Internet Mysteries" by Johnson (2017) offers valuable insights into the enigmatic currents of digital culture and the whimsical forces that shape online phenomena. From viral sensations to meme taxonomy, Johnson's eclectic analysis provides a context for our examination of the interwoven fates of the "pork and beans" meme and Tamagotchi.

In the realm of fiction, the interplay of nostalgia and technological artifacts finds a curious parallel in Murakami's "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" (1985). While the novel's themes extend beyond the digital domain, its imaginative fusion of disparate elements resonates with the unexpected synthesis we observe in the "pork and beans" meme's linkage to Tamagotchi. The whimsy and intrigue of Murakami's storytelling mirror the convoluted charm of our research subject, inviting readers to ponder the playful confluence of pork and pixels.

Drawing inspiration from the world of games, the classic board game "Mousetrap" offers a fitting portrayal of the complex mechanisms underlying seemingly incongruous connections. As players construct elaborate contraptions to capture unsuspecting mice, the game serves as a metaphor for the intricate interplay of factors driving the correlation between the "pork and beans" meme and Tamagotchi. Just as the game's whimsical chain reactions culminate in surprise and delight, our research unravels the convoluted pathway linking two seemingly unrelated phenomena, yielding a delectable blend of curiosity and amusement.

As we proceed with our investigation, we implore readers to embrace the spirit of whimsy and the allure of the unexpected, for the culmination of our findings promises a delightful revelation that transcends the conventional bounds of academic inquiry.

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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme and Google searches for 'Tamagotchi'. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. 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]]
"Pigging Out on Digital Nostalgia: Exploring the Correlation Between the 'Pork and Beans' Meme and Google Searches for 'Tamagotchi'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the widespread appeal of the "pork and beans" meme and the search interest in the iconic virtual pet, Tamagotchi, using data from Google Trends. Through rigorous statistical examination, we have established a clear correlation between the popularity of the meme and the frequency of searches for the virtual pet. The correlation coefficient of 0.8456087, with p < 0.01, for the period of 2008 to 2023 indicates a strong positive relationship. Our findings suggest that online trends and digital nostalgia have a significant impact on user behavior and information retrieval, revealing unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated cultural phenomena. As we playfully delve into the curious intertwining of pork products and virtual pets, our research sheds light on the whimsical and unpredictable nature of internet culture and its influence on search patterns.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
The notion of unexpected correlations and inexplicable affinities has long intrigued scholars across various disciplines. Smith et al. (2015) illuminated the serendipitous convergence of seemingly unrelated cultural artifacts in their seminal work on "Linguistic Patterns in Internet Subculture." The authors uncovered surprising parallels between online memes and traditional modes of linguistic expression, prompting a reevaluation of the interplay between internet culture and linguistic evolution.
Doe and Jones (2018) further delved into the phenomenon of digital nostalgia and its impact on contemporary user behavior in "The Psychology of Nostalgia in the Digital Age." Their comprehensive analysis elucidated the emotional resonance of retro digital artifacts, revealing how nostalgia shapes consumer preferences and online engagement. The interweaving of past and present in virtual spaces emerged as a salient theme in their exploration of digital nostalgia, setting the stage for our investigation into the infectious appeal of the "pork and beans" meme and its surprising link to Tamagotchi.
Turning to pertinent non-fiction works, "The Digital Zeitgeist: Unraveling Internet Mysteries" by Johnson (2017) offers valuable insights into the enigmatic currents of digital culture and the whimsical forces that shape online phenomena. From viral sensations to meme taxonomy, Johnson's eclectic analysis provides a context for our examination of the interwoven fates of the "pork and beans" meme and Tamagotchi.
In the realm of fiction, the interplay of nostalgia and technological artifacts finds a curious parallel in Murakami's "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" (1985). While the novel's themes extend beyond the digital domain, its imaginative fusion of disparate elements resonates with the unexpected synthesis we observe in the "pork and beans" meme's linkage to Tamagotchi. The whimsy and intrigue of Murakami's storytelling mirror the convoluted charm of our research subject, inviting readers to ponder the playful confluence of pork and pixels.
Drawing inspiration from the world of games, the classic board game "Mousetrap" offers a fitting portrayal of the complex mechanisms underlying seemingly incongruous connections. As players construct elaborate contraptions to capture unsuspecting mice, the game serves as a metaphor for the intricate interplay of factors driving the correlation between the "pork and beans" meme and Tamagotchi. Just as the game's whimsical chain reactions culminate in surprise and delight, our research unravels the convoluted pathway linking two seemingly unrelated phenomena, yielding a delectable blend of curiosity and amusement.
As we proceed with our investigation, we implore readers to embrace the spirit of whimsy and the allure of the unexpected, for the culmination of our findings promises a delightful revelation that transcends the conventional bounds of academic inquiry.

[[RESULTS]]
The results of our analysis revealed a notable correlation between the "pork and beans" meme and Google searches for Tamagotchi, adding a dash of unexpected humor to the sometimes dry domain of statistical analysis. The correlation coefficient of 0.8456087 indicates a strong positive relationship between the two variables, highlighting the intriguing interplay of online trends and digital nostalgia.
Our findings suggest that the enduring appeal of the "pork and beans" meme has coincided with increased search interest in Tamagotchi, evoking a delightful serendipity in the realm of internet culture. The r-squared value of 0.7150542 further underscores the robustness of this connection, demonstrating that a substantial proportion of the variance in Tamagotchi searches can be explained by the popularity of the meme.
With a p-value of less than 0.01, our results indicate a high level of statistical significance, affirming the strength of the observed correlation. This sturdy statistical foundation solidifies the unexpected alliance between the whimsical world of online memes and the enduring charm of virtual pets, showcasing the quirky and unpredictable nature of user behavior in the digital domain.
In Figure 1, the scatterplot visually encapsulates the strong correlation between the "pork and beans" meme and Google searches for Tamagotchi, serving as a lighthearted testament to the whimsical interconnectedness of seemingly divergent cultural phenomena. The scatterplot, much like a dynamic meme, captures the essence of this delightful correlation and adds a touch of playful flair to the otherwise serious landscape of empirical research.
In sum, our results not only confirm the unexpected relationship between the "pork and beans" meme and Tamagotchi searches but also highlight the unanticipated interplay of digital nostalgia and internet culture. As we humorously unravel the captivating enigma of pork products and virtual pets, our findings contribute to a more colorful understanding of the delightful and idiosyncratic facets of online trends and user behavior.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The robust correlation between the "pork and beans" meme and Google searches for Tamagotchi highlights the whimsical and enigmatic forces at play in the digital domain. Our findings not only substantiate prior research on the surprising convergence of seemingly unrelated cultural artifacts, but also add a delectable twist to the often staid world of statistical analysis. The unanticipated affinity between a digitized porcine dish and a virtual pet elicits a playful nod to the capricious nature of internet culture, inviting researchers and enthusiasts alike to savor the delightful absurdity of our interconnected digital landscape.

Building upon the insights of Smith et al. (2015), who first illuminated the uncanny parallels between online phenomena and traditional linguistic patterns, our study thrusts into the digital playground to uncover the merry dance of pork-centric humor and virtual pet nostalgia. Contrary to the conundrum posed in Murakami's "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" (1985), where disparate elements converge in a world of unfathomable enigma, the fusion of the "pork and beans" meme and Tamagotchi searches aligns with delightful precision, punctuating the relentless march of digital nostalgia with an unexpected piggy-like twist.

Doe and Jones (2018) provided a compelling exploration of digital nostalgia's emotive sway, setting the stage for our foray into the charming rendezvous between a tongue-in-cheek internet sensation and a beloved virtual pet. Much like the intricate mechanisms of the classic board game "Mousetrap," our findings unravel the convoluted threads weaving pork products and pixelated pets together, yielding a lighthearted testament to the whimsical interplay of online phenomena and user behavior.

In contemplating the playful confluence of pork and pixels, our investigation transcends conventional academic boundaries, beckoning scholars to relish the capricious nature of digital culture. The scatterplot, a digital testament to our unexpected findings, serves not only as a visual discriminator of correlation but also as a lighthearted companion in our scholarly endeavor, injecting a touch of levity into the otherwise somber landscape of empirical inquiry.

As we pivot to consider the potential implications of our findings, we are met with an exhilarating tapestry of interconnectivity and amusement. The digital realm, often lauded for its boundless potential, now stands as a whimsical stage where swine-inspired humor and virtual pet affection harmonize with improbable finesse. With a wink to the serendipitous spirit of internet culture, our study beckons researchers and enthusiasts to savor the exuberant, multilayered tapestry of online trends and user behavior, underscoring the joyous unpredictability that colors the canvas of our interconnected world.

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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme and Google searches for 'Tamagotchi'. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. 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]]
"Pigging Out on Digital Nostalgia: Exploring the Correlation Between the 'Pork and Beans' Meme and Google Searches for 'Tamagotchi'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the widespread appeal of the "pork and beans" meme and the search interest in the iconic virtual pet, Tamagotchi, using data from Google Trends. Through rigorous statistical examination, we have established a clear correlation between the popularity of the meme and the frequency of searches for the virtual pet. The correlation coefficient of 0.8456087, with p < 0.01, for the period of 2008 to 2023 indicates a strong positive relationship. Our findings suggest that online trends and digital nostalgia have a significant impact on user behavior and information retrieval, revealing unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated cultural phenomena. As we playfully delve into the curious intertwining of pork products and virtual pets, our research sheds light on the whimsical and unpredictable nature of internet culture and its influence on search patterns.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The internet is a strange and wonderful place, where the peculiar and the profound often collide in unexpected ways. In this research paper, we meticulously unpack the enigmatic connection between the "pork and beans" meme and the perennially popular virtual pet, Tamagotchi. While some may dismiss this correlation as mere happenstance, our findings reveal a surprisingly robust association that has perplexed even the most seasoned researchers in the field.
The rise of internet memes has transformed the digital landscape, shaping the way we communicate, express emotions, and perpetuate inside jokes across the virtual realm. From grumpy cats to dramatic prairie dogs, memes have an uncanny ability to capture the collective imagination and propagate like wildfire. The "pork and beans" meme, featuring a piglet nestled amongst a palatable pile of legumes, has garnered its fair share of attention in the vast meme-scape. Its infectious charm and inexplicable allure have left many pondering its enduring appeal.
Meanwhile, the Tamagotchi, an electronic pet simulation device that captured the hearts of 90s kids and digital enthusiasts alike, continues to cultivate a dedicated fan base. Despite the passage of time, this virtual pet persists in tantalizing our nostalgic sensibilities, beckoning us to relive the bygone era of pixelated companionship. The unexpected resurgence of interest in Tamagotchi has raised eyebrows and prompted inquiries into the factors driving this phenomenon.
Armed with a spirit of curiosity and a penchant for uncovering the peculiar, we embarked on a quest to unravel the mysteries of internet culture and its influence on user behavior. As we immersed ourselves in the esoteric world of memes and virtual pets, we found ourselves pleasantly surprised by the robust correlation between the "pork and beans" meme and Google searches for Tamagotchi. With statistical rigor and a hint of whimsy, we set out to demystify this peculiar connection and shed light on the quirky interplay of online trends and nostalgia.
In the following sections, we delve into the intricacies of our methodology, presenting our data-driven approach to deciphering this unlikely alliance between pork products and digital pets. Through rigorous analysis and lighthearted exploration, we invite readers to join us on this academic escapade into the whimsical realm of internet culture, where unexpected correlations and unlikely bedfellows await their moment in the scientific spotlight.

[[RESULTS]]
The results of our analysis revealed a notable correlation between the "pork and beans" meme and Google searches for Tamagotchi, adding a dash of unexpected humor to the sometimes dry domain of statistical analysis. The correlation coefficient of 0.8456087 indicates a strong positive relationship between the two variables, highlighting the intriguing interplay of online trends and digital nostalgia.
Our findings suggest that the enduring appeal of the "pork and beans" meme has coincided with increased search interest in Tamagotchi, evoking a delightful serendipity in the realm of internet culture. The r-squared value of 0.7150542 further underscores the robustness of this connection, demonstrating that a substantial proportion of the variance in Tamagotchi searches can be explained by the popularity of the meme.
With a p-value of less than 0.01, our results indicate a high level of statistical significance, affirming the strength of the observed correlation. This sturdy statistical foundation solidifies the unexpected alliance between the whimsical world of online memes and the enduring charm of virtual pets, showcasing the quirky and unpredictable nature of user behavior in the digital domain.
In Figure 1, the scatterplot visually encapsulates the strong correlation between the "pork and beans" meme and Google searches for Tamagotchi, serving as a lighthearted testament to the whimsical interconnectedness of seemingly divergent cultural phenomena. The scatterplot, much like a dynamic meme, captures the essence of this delightful correlation and adds a touch of playful flair to the otherwise serious landscape of empirical research.
In sum, our results not only confirm the unexpected relationship between the "pork and beans" meme and Tamagotchi searches but also highlight the unanticipated interplay of digital nostalgia and internet culture. As we humorously unravel the captivating enigma of pork products and virtual pets, our findings contribute to a more colorful understanding of the delightful and idiosyncratic facets of online trends and user behavior.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]
In conclusion, our research has revealed a surprisingly robust correlation between the "pork and beans" meme and Google searches for Tamagotchi, adding a dash of whimsy to the world of statistical analysis. The almost suspiciously high correlation coefficient of 0.8456087, with a p-value of less than 0.01, suggests that there's more to this delightful duo than meets the eye. It seems that the interplay of digital nostalgia and internet culture has conspired to draw attention to the virtual pet, much like a mischievous Tamagotchi demanding its owner's focus.

Our study has not only illuminated the unexpected bond between pork products and digital pets but has also provided a beacon of hope for researchers seeking to inject a bit of levity into their investigations. As we reflect on the entertaining journey of uncovering this curious correlation, we can't help but marvel at the capricious nature of online trends and their ability to unite even the most unlikely of companions.

As for the future of research in this area, it seems that our work has brought this peculiar partnership into the limelight, leaving little to be probed further. In the endeavor to fathom the delightful and mysterious intertwining of the "pork and beans" meme and Tamagotchi searches, it appears that our fine-tuned statistical analysis has satisfied the curiosity surrounding this quirky correlation. It seems the time has come to let this amusing alliance spark joy among internet denizens without further academic scrutiny.

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 Pigging Out on Digital Nostalgia: Exploring the Correlation Between the 'Pork and Beans' Meme and Google Searches for 'Tamagotchi'. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

Journal of Internet Culture 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 Pigging Out on Digital Nostalgia: Exploring the Correlation Between the 'Pork and Beans' Meme and Google Searches for 'Tamagotchi'. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Society for Internet Culture and Nostalgia Studies

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide potential search keywords separated by commas. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide potential search keywords for a paper titled Pigging Out on Digital Nostalgia: Exploring the Correlation Between the 'Pork and Beans' Meme and Google Searches for 'Tamagotchi' with an abstract of This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the widespread appeal of the "pork and beans" meme and the search interest in the iconic virtual pet, Tamagotchi, using data from Google Trends. Through rigorous statistical examination, we have established a clear correlation between the popularity of the meme and the frequency of searches for the virtual pet. The correlation coefficient of 0.8456087, with p < 0.01, for the period of 2008 to 2023 indicates a strong positive relationship. Our findings suggest that online trends and digital nostalgia have a significant impact on user behavior and information retrieval, revealing unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated cultural phenomena. As we playfully delve into the curious intertwining of pork products and virtual pets, our research sheds light on the whimsical and unpredictable nature of internet culture and its influence on search patterns.

ChatGPT:

"Pork and Beans" meme, Google searches, Tamagotchi, digital nostalgia, internet culture, online trends, virtual pet, search patterns, correlation analysis, Google Trends data, user behavior, cultural phenomena

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

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Data details

Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme
Detailed data title: Relative volume of Google searches for 'pork and beans' (without quotes, in the United States)
Source: Google Trends
Additional Info: ^{See full details} Relative search volume is a unique Google thing; the shape of the chart is accurate but the actual numbers are meaningless.

See what else correlates with Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme

Google searches for 'Tamagotchi'
Detailed data title: Relative volume of Google searches for 'Tamagotchi' (Worldwide, without quotes)
Source: Google Trends
Additional Info: ^{See full details} Relative search volume (not absolute numbers)

See what else correlates with Google searches for 'Tamagotchi'

Correlation r = 0.8456087 (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 = 0.7150542 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 71.5% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Google searches for 'Tamagotchi') is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme) over the 16 years from 2008 through 2023.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 3.7E-5.^Show 0.0000368987437183050200000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme.^Note More specifically the p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme if we had only tested one pair of variables one time.

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

Who is going to stop me? p-value reporting doesn't require me to report how many calculations I had to go through in order to find a low p-value!
On average, you will find a correaltion as strong as 0.85 in 0.0037% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 27,101 random variables^Note You don't actually need 27 thousand variables to find a correlation like this one. 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.

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 15 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 15 because we have two variables measured over a period of 16 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.

[ 0.6, 0.95 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
^{Read more about the confidence interval} The confidence interval is an estimate the range of the value of the correlation coefficient, using the correlation itself as an input. The values are meant to be the low and high end of the correlation coefficient with 95% confidence.

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

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

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

	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme (Relative popularity)	30.3333	10.9167	7.75	7.5	7	6.83333	6.91667	7.08333	7.5	8.08333	8	7.83333	8.91667	7.83333	8.58333	7.91667
Google searches for 'Tamagotchi' (Rel. search volume)	74.1667	44.9167	34.5833	27.0833	26.4167	31.1667	24.75	19.3333	16.6667	22.9167	30.9167	21.8333	25	27.3333	42.9167	43.25

Why this works

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

Try it yourself

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([30.3333,10.9167,7.75,7.5,7,6.83333,6.91667,7.08333,7.5,8.08333,8,7.83333,8.91667,7.83333,8.58333,7.91667,])
array_2 = np.array([74.1667,44.9167,34.5833,27.0833,26.4167,31.1667,24.75,19.3333,16.6667,22.9167,30.9167,21.8333,25,27.3333,42.9167,43.25,])
array_1_name = "Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme"
array_2_name = "Google searches for 'Tamagotchi'"

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

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

Reuseable content

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

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

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

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

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

Download images for these variables:

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

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

Alternatively you can use a tool like Inkscape.
High resolution line chart, optimized for mobile
Alternative high resolution line chart
Scatterplot
Portable line chart (png)
Portable line chart (png), optimized for mobile
Line chart for only Popularity of the 'pork and beans' meme
Line chart for only Google searches for 'Tamagotchi'
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Pigging Out on Digital Nostalgia: Exploring the Correlation Between the 'Pork and Beans' Meme and Google Searches for 'Tamagotchi'

View another random correlation

How fun was this correlation?

Your correlation inspection deserves a standing ovation!

Correlation ID: 4866 · Black Variable ID: 25099 · Red Variable ID: 1445


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