Spurious correlation #5,007 · View random
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri and the second variable is Global shipwrecks . The chart goes from 1980 to 2014, 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 Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri and the second variable is Global shipwrecks . The chart goes from 1980 to 2014, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

As the support for the Libertarian candidate in Missouri grew, so did the belief in minimal government intervention. This led to a decrease in funding for maritime safety regulations and a rise in unskilled captains attempting to navigate the high seas freely. With this laissez-faire attitude towards maritime operations, global shipwrecks inevitably saw a correlating increase. After all, in the absence of strong leadership and regulation, it was every ship for itself, leading to a perfect storm of nautical disasters.

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of an ocean filled with shipwrecks, with dimly-lit skies to depict the chaos and destruction resulting from reduced maritime safety regulations. Show unskilled captains navigating their ships haphazardly amidst the wreckage, exemplifying the consequences of minimal government intervention on the high seas. The scene should evoke a sense of disorder and danger, highlighting the impact of lax regulation and leadership on global nautical disasters. 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: Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri and Global shipwrecks . 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: Realistic Brutalism Celtic art a funny image you would see on reddit An image that looks like it is a scene from a Pixar movie
ChatGPT: Realistic

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 Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri and Global shipwrecks , in the following situation: As the support for the Libertarian candidate in Missouri grew, so did the belief in minimal government intervention. This led to a decrease in funding for maritime safety regulations and a rise in unskilled captains attempting to navigate the high seas freely. With this laissez-faire attitude towards maritime operations, global shipwrecks inevitably saw a correlating increase. After all, in the absence of strong leadership and regulation, it was every ship for itself, leading to a perfect storm of nautical disasters.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In Missouri, as votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate increased, a sense of minimal government intervention took hold. This resulted in a reduction in funding for maritime safety regulations and a surge in unskilled captains navigating the high seas freely. Consequently, global shipwrecks saw a correlating increase, reflecting the absence of strong leadership and regulation, and leading to numerous nautical disasters.

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: [ Realistic ] and depicting this scene: In Missouri, as votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate increased, a sense of minimal government intervention took hold. This resulted in a reduction in funding for maritime safety regulations and a surge in unskilled captains navigating the high seas freely. Consequently, global shipwrecks saw a correlating increase, reflecting the absence of strong leadership and regulation, and leading to numerous nautical disasters. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of an ocean filled with shipwrecks, with dimly-lit skies to depict the chaos and destruction resulting from reduced maritime safety regulations. Show unskilled captains navigating their ships haphazardly amidst the wreckage, exemplifying the consequences of minimal government intervention on the high seas. The scene should evoke a sense of disorder and danger, highlighting the impact of lax regulation and leadership on global nautical disasters.

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

I sequence the requests into multiple prompts because I find GPT 3.5 to perform much better with short, well-managed contexts. Thus, I track the context directly in Python and only ask ChatGPT targeted questions.
^{Show prompt for explanation} Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how an increase in Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri caused Global shipwrecks to increase. Make it feel plausible.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Missouri and Global Shipwrecks

Journal of Quirky Interdisciplinary Studies

Jan 2024

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

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

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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri and Global shipwrecks . Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

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

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Missouri and Global Shipwrecks

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study aims to disentangle the enigmatic relationship between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in the state of Missouri and the occurrences of global shipwrecks. Leveraging data from the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, and Wikipedia, we adopted a quantitative approach to scrutinize this curious association. Surprisingly, our analysis revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01 between these seemingly disparate phenomena from 1980 to 2014, defying traditional expectations. This unexpected correlation prompts the need for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms that may connect political preferences in the Show-Me State with maritime misadventures worldwide. Our findings underscore the importance of considering unconventional variables in political and maritime analyses, challenging researchers to navigate uncharted waters in the quest for new knowledge.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The relationship between political events and seemingly unrelated phenomena has long piqued the curiosity of researchers and pundits alike. In this study, we delve into the uncharted waters of the connection between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and the occurrence of global shipwrecks. At first glance, one might be inclined to dismiss such a correlation as mere happenstance or the result of quirky data anomalies. However, as we set sail on this analytical voyage, we uncover a surprisingly robust association that demands our attention.
As researchers, we are accustomed to navigating through complex data and traversing uncharted territories of inquiry. However, the convergence of political voting patterns and maritime mishaps presents a particularly intriguing puzzle. The state of Missouri, often characterized as a bellwether in American politics, and the prevalence of global shipwrecks may seem as distant as two ships passing in the night. Nevertheless, our preliminary analysis, which spans the years 1980 to 2014, has unearthed a correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01. This statistically significant relationship between these seemingly incongruous variables challenges our conventional understanding and beckons us to explore the underlying mechanisms at play.
While the temptation to dismiss this connection as a mere curiosity lingers, the robustness of the correlation urges us to delve deeper. Thus, we embark on a systematic examination of the intertwined narratives of political inclinations in the Show-Me State and maritime misfortunes across the globe. As we set our compass to navigate this peculiar terrain of inquiry, we invite fellow scholars to join us in this exploration of the interplay between seemingly disparate phenomena. The unexpected convergence of these domains prompts us to embrace a spirit of intellectual adventure, leaving no stone unturned in our quest to unravel this enigmatic nexus.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

Several seminal studies have elucidated the intricate connections between political phenomena and seemingly unrelated events. Smith et al. (2007) found compelling evidence of the influence of state-level political preferences on weather patterns in the Midwest, while Doe and Jones (2015) uncovered a curious correlation between town council election results and the prevalence of frog sightings in suburban ponds. However, the field of research on the relationship between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and global shipwrecks remains conspicuously sparse, prompting the need for further exploration.

In "Shipwrecks and Their Impact on Global Trade" by maritime historian Lorem Ipsum (2010), the author offers a comprehensive analysis of the economic implications of maritime disasters on international trade networks, yet regrettably overlooks the potential influence of political voting patterns on such occurrences. Conversely, "Political Landscapes: An Examination of Electoral Dynamics" by political scientist Sit Amet (2013) provides keen insights into the electoral landscape of Missouri, but omits any consideration of its potential impact on global maritime incidents.

Turning to more fictional accounts, the novel "Castaway Confessions" by Arthur Adventure (2002) romantically portrays the trials and tribulations of a shipwreck survivor marooned on a deserted island, yet regrettably disregards any potential correlation with the electoral preferences of Missourians. In a similar vein, "Sea Tea" by Marina Mariner (2018) uses the backdrop of a maritime mystery to unravel the complexities of human relationships, but fails to delve into the political undercurrents that may influence such nautical narratives.

Furthermore, childhood cartoons and television shows have relayed narratives that may shed light on the interplay between political voting patterns and maritime misadventures. The episodes of "SpongeBob SquarePants" in which the characters navigate high-seas escapades and interact with the denizens of Bikini Bottom subtly hint at the potential influence of political leanings on maritime exploits. Similarly, "Dora the Explorer" episodes featuring expeditions across various terrains may offer implicit insights into the connections between political landscapes and maritime navigation, albeit in a whimsical cartoon setting. These cultural productions, though ostensibly light-hearted, may hold valuable clues to the nexus between political preferences and global shipwrecks, warranting further scholarly attention.

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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri and Global shipwrecks . Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse and Wikipedia . You used data from 1980 to 2014

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]]
Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Missouri and Global Shipwrecks

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study aims to disentangle the enigmatic relationship between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in the state of Missouri and the occurrences of global shipwrecks. Leveraging data from the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, and Wikipedia, we adopted a quantitative approach to scrutinize this curious association. Surprisingly, our analysis revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01 between these seemingly disparate phenomena from 1980 to 2014, defying traditional expectations. This unexpected correlation prompts the need for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms that may connect political preferences in the Show-Me State with maritime misadventures worldwide. Our findings underscore the importance of considering unconventional variables in political and maritime analyses, challenging researchers to navigate uncharted waters in the quest for new knowledge.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The relationship between political events and seemingly unrelated phenomena has long piqued the curiosity of researchers and pundits alike. In this study, we delve into the uncharted waters of the connection between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and the occurrence of global shipwrecks. At first glance, one might be inclined to dismiss such a correlation as mere happenstance or the result of quirky data anomalies. However, as we set sail on this analytical voyage, we uncover a surprisingly robust association that demands our attention.
As researchers, we are accustomed to navigating through complex data and traversing uncharted territories of inquiry. However, the convergence of political voting patterns and maritime mishaps presents a particularly intriguing puzzle. The state of Missouri, often characterized as a bellwether in American politics, and the prevalence of global shipwrecks may seem as distant as two ships passing in the night. Nevertheless, our preliminary analysis, which spans the years 1980 to 2014, has unearthed a correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01. This statistically significant relationship between these seemingly incongruous variables challenges our conventional understanding and beckons us to explore the underlying mechanisms at play.
While the temptation to dismiss this connection as a mere curiosity lingers, the robustness of the correlation urges us to delve deeper. Thus, we embark on a systematic examination of the intertwined narratives of political inclinations in the Show-Me State and maritime misfortunes across the globe. As we set our compass to navigate this peculiar terrain of inquiry, we invite fellow scholars to join us in this exploration of the interplay between seemingly disparate phenomena. The unexpected convergence of these domains prompts us to embrace a spirit of intellectual adventure, leaving no stone unturned in our quest to unravel this enigmatic nexus.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

In order to probe the mysterious relationship between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and global shipwrecks, our research team embarked on a convoluted journey through the annals of data collection and analysis. Leveraging data from the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, and Wikipedia, we sought to untangle the enigmatic correlation that had piqued our curiosity.

Firstly, we delved into the depths of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, extracting data on votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri for the years 1980 to 2014. With an eye toward methodological rigor, we ensured that the data were carefully cleansed of any potential biases or stray outliers, which might have capsized our analytical ship.

Next, we charted a course through the expansive waters of the Harvard Dataverse, where we sought information on global shipwrecks during the same period. Navigating through the sea of historical records and maritime mishaps, we cast our net wide, encompassing data from diverse geographical regions to capture a comprehensive view of shipwrecks around the globe. Of course, we made sure to meticulously validate and cross-reference the data to avoid any potential data leaks or unforeseen navigational hazards.

In the spirit of scholarly thoroughness, we also utilized supplementary data from the repository of human knowledge - Wikipedia. While some might view this as an unorthodox source, we deftly navigated the turbulent waters of Wikipedia's vast expanse, anchoring our findings in a robust framework of citation and verification.

With the datasets securely hoisted aboard our analytical vessel, we embarked on the treacherous journey of statistical analysis. Employing sophisticated quantitative techniques, we reckoned with the veritable tempest of numbers, navigating through regression analyses and correlation coefficients to unveil the surprising relationship between political votes in the Show-Me State and maritime misfortunes across the globe.

While our approach may have seemed whimsical at times, akin to a whimsical sailor chasing the elusive horizon, we are confident that our methodological odyssey provides a robust foundation for the exploration of this unconventional nexus.

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 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 Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri and Global shipwrecks . Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse and Wikipedia .

For the time period 1980 to 2014, you found a correlation 0.9766440, r-squared of 0.9538335, 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]]
Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Missouri and Global Shipwrecks

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study aims to disentangle the enigmatic relationship between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in the state of Missouri and the occurrences of global shipwrecks. Leveraging data from the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, and Wikipedia, we adopted a quantitative approach to scrutinize this curious association. Surprisingly, our analysis revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01 between these seemingly disparate phenomena from 1980 to 2014, defying traditional expectations. This unexpected correlation prompts the need for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms that may connect political preferences in the Show-Me State with maritime misadventures worldwide. Our findings underscore the importance of considering unconventional variables in political and maritime analyses, challenging researchers to navigate uncharted waters in the quest for new knowledge.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
The relationship between political events and seemingly unrelated phenomena has long piqued the curiosity of researchers and pundits alike. In this study, we delve into the uncharted waters of the connection between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and the occurrence of global shipwrecks. At first glance, one might be inclined to dismiss such a correlation as mere happenstance or the result of quirky data anomalies. However, as we set sail on this analytical voyage, we uncover a surprisingly robust association that demands our attention.
As researchers, we are accustomed to navigating through complex data and traversing uncharted territories of inquiry. However, the convergence of political voting patterns and maritime mishaps presents a particularly intriguing puzzle. The state of Missouri, often characterized as a bellwether in American politics, and the prevalence of global shipwrecks may seem as distant as two ships passing in the night. Nevertheless, our preliminary analysis, which spans the years 1980 to 2014, has unearthed a correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01. This statistically significant relationship between these seemingly incongruous variables challenges our conventional understanding and beckons us to explore the underlying mechanisms at play.
While the temptation to dismiss this connection as a mere curiosity lingers, the robustness of the correlation urges us to delve deeper. Thus, we embark on a systematic examination of the intertwined narratives of political inclinations in the Show-Me State and maritime misfortunes across the globe. As we set our compass to navigate this peculiar terrain of inquiry, we invite fellow scholars to join us in this exploration of the interplay between seemingly disparate phenomena. The unexpected convergence of these domains prompts us to embrace a spirit of intellectual adventure, leaving no stone unturned in our quest to unravel this enigmatic nexus.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]

ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

Upon conducting our analysis, we are pleased to report the emergence of a remarkably strong correlation between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and the frequency of global shipwrecks. The correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and an r-squared value of 0.9538335 suggest an undeniable relationship between these seemingly unconnected variables from 1980 to 2014.

The statistical significance, with a p-value of less than 0.01, further underscores the robustness of this unexpected association. It seems that the tidal waves of political preferences in the Show-Me State have indeed made a splash on the global maritime landscape.

Furthermore, the scatterplot (Fig. 1) visually depicts this connection, showcasing the tight clustering of data points and providing a compelling illustration of this surprising correlation. It's almost as if these two variables are sailing in the same boat, navigating the choppy waters of statistical analysis together.

In light of these findings, it appears that the political winds blowing through Missouri may hold some sway over the ebb and flow of maritime history across the globe. This unforeseen connection prompts a reevaluation of traditional assumptions and beckons us to consider the myriad ways in which seemingly disparate events may be inexplicably linked.

These results not only challenge our preconceived notions but also highlight the need for interdisciplinary exploration, encouraging researchers to broaden the scope of their inquiries and chart new courses of investigation. This unexpected correlation indeed invites us to navigate uncharted waters in our quest for knowledge and reinforces the adage that "where there's a Will, there's a wave."

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 Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri and Global shipwrecks . Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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]]
Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Missouri and Global Shipwrecks

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study aims to disentangle the enigmatic relationship between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in the state of Missouri and the occurrences of global shipwrecks. Leveraging data from the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, and Wikipedia, we adopted a quantitative approach to scrutinize this curious association. Surprisingly, our analysis revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01 between these seemingly disparate phenomena from 1980 to 2014, defying traditional expectations. This unexpected correlation prompts the need for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms that may connect political preferences in the Show-Me State with maritime misadventures worldwide. Our findings underscore the importance of considering unconventional variables in political and maritime analyses, challenging researchers to navigate uncharted waters in the quest for new knowledge.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
Several seminal studies have elucidated the intricate connections between political phenomena and seemingly unrelated events. Smith et al. (2007) found compelling evidence of the influence of state-level political preferences on weather patterns in the Midwest, while Doe and Jones (2015) uncovered a curious correlation between town council election results and the prevalence of frog sightings in suburban ponds. However, the field of research on the relationship between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and global shipwrecks remains conspicuously sparse, prompting the need for further exploration.
In "Shipwrecks and Their Impact on Global Trade" by maritime historian Lorem Ipsum (2010), the author offers a comprehensive analysis of the economic implications of maritime disasters on international trade networks, yet regrettably overlooks the potential influence of political voting patterns on such occurrences. Conversely, "Political Landscapes: An Examination of Electoral Dynamics" by political scientist Sit Amet (2013) provides keen insights into the electoral landscape of Missouri, but omits any consideration of its potential impact on global maritime incidents.
Turning to more fictional accounts, the novel "Castaway Confessions" by Arthur Adventure (2002) romantically portrays the trials and tribulations of a shipwreck survivor marooned on a deserted island, yet regrettably disregards any potential correlation with the electoral preferences of Missourians. In a similar vein, "Sea Tea" by Marina Mariner (2018) uses the backdrop of a maritime mystery to unravel the complexities of human relationships, but fails to delve into the political undercurrents that may influence such nautical narratives.
Furthermore, childhood cartoons and television shows have relayed narratives that may shed light on the interplay between political voting patterns and maritime misadventures. The episodes of "SpongeBob SquarePants" in which the characters navigate high-seas escapades and interact with the denizens of Bikini Bottom subtly hint at the potential influence of political leanings on maritime exploits. Similarly, "Dora the Explorer" episodes featuring expeditions across various terrains may offer implicit insights into the connections between political landscapes and maritime navigation, albeit in a whimsical cartoon setting. These cultural productions, though ostensibly light-hearted, may hold valuable clues to the nexus between political preferences and global shipwrecks, warranting further scholarly attention.

[[RESULTS]]
Upon conducting our analysis, we are pleased to report the emergence of a remarkably strong correlation between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and the frequency of global shipwrecks. The correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and an r-squared value of 0.9538335 suggest an undeniable relationship between these seemingly unconnected variables from 1980 to 2014.
The statistical significance, with a p-value of less than 0.01, further underscores the robustness of this unexpected association. It seems that the tidal waves of political preferences in the Show-Me State have indeed made a splash on the global maritime landscape.
Furthermore, the scatterplot (Fig. 1) visually depicts this connection, showcasing the tight clustering of data points and providing a compelling illustration of this surprising correlation. It's almost as if these two variables are sailing in the same boat, navigating the choppy waters of statistical analysis together.
In light of these findings, it appears that the political winds blowing through Missouri may hold some sway over the ebb and flow of maritime history across the globe. This unforeseen connection prompts a reevaluation of traditional assumptions and beckons us to consider the myriad ways in which seemingly disparate events may be inexplicably linked.
These results not only challenge our preconceived notions but also highlight the need for interdisciplinary exploration, encouraging researchers to broaden the scope of their inquiries and chart new courses of investigation. This unexpected correlation indeed invites us to navigate uncharted waters in our quest for knowledge and reinforces the adage that "where there's a Will, there's a wave."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The robust correlation between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and the occurrence of global shipwrecks has yielded unexpectedly buoyant results. Our findings not only corroborate prior literature's insights, but they also underscore the interconnectedness of seemingly unrelated phenomena.

The link between political preferences in Missouri and maritime mishaps across the globe may, upon initial consideration, appear as implausible as a round peg in a sea of square holes. However, our study's results uphold the unanticipated connections drawn by Smith et al. in their examination of weather patterns in the Midwest, echoing the sentiment that "where there's a Will, there's a wave."

Moreover, while the literature review may have playfully suggested the potential influence of childhood cartoons on our understanding of this relationship, our findings validate the importance of exploring unconventional variables in scholarly pursuits. Indeed, it's as though the characters of "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Dora the Explorer" were pointing us in the direction of this intriguing nexus all along, navigating the choppy waters of scientific inquiry with unsuspecting grace.

The statistical robustness of the correlation coefficient, combined with the visually compelling scatterplot, lend credence to the notion that these two variables are, metaphorically speaking, sailing in the same boat. The degree of interconnectedness between political landscapes and maritime navigation thereby challenges us to delve deeper into the mechanisms at play and consider the ripple effects of state-level political preferences on global phenomena.

This unforeseen correlation between the politico-geographical and maritime spheres beckons us to chart new courses of investigation, embodying the ethos that research endeavors should brave uncharted waters in the pursuit of knowledge. As the winds of serendipity continue to blow, this unexpected association encourages us to set sail with curiosity as our only compass, for in the unpredictable terrain of academia, the unlikely often turns out to be the inevitable.

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 Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri and Global shipwrecks . Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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]]
Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Missouri and Global Shipwrecks

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study aims to disentangle the enigmatic relationship between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in the state of Missouri and the occurrences of global shipwrecks. Leveraging data from the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, and Wikipedia, we adopted a quantitative approach to scrutinize this curious association. Surprisingly, our analysis revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01 between these seemingly disparate phenomena from 1980 to 2014, defying traditional expectations. This unexpected correlation prompts the need for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms that may connect political preferences in the Show-Me State with maritime misadventures worldwide. Our findings underscore the importance of considering unconventional variables in political and maritime analyses, challenging researchers to navigate uncharted waters in the quest for new knowledge.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The relationship between political events and seemingly unrelated phenomena has long piqued the curiosity of researchers and pundits alike. In this study, we delve into the uncharted waters of the connection between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and the occurrence of global shipwrecks. At first glance, one might be inclined to dismiss such a correlation as mere happenstance or the result of quirky data anomalies. However, as we set sail on this analytical voyage, we uncover a surprisingly robust association that demands our attention.
As researchers, we are accustomed to navigating through complex data and traversing uncharted territories of inquiry. However, the convergence of political voting patterns and maritime mishaps presents a particularly intriguing puzzle. The state of Missouri, often characterized as a bellwether in American politics, and the prevalence of global shipwrecks may seem as distant as two ships passing in the night. Nevertheless, our preliminary analysis, which spans the years 1980 to 2014, has unearthed a correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01. This statistically significant relationship between these seemingly incongruous variables challenges our conventional understanding and beckons us to explore the underlying mechanisms at play.
While the temptation to dismiss this connection as a mere curiosity lingers, the robustness of the correlation urges us to delve deeper. Thus, we embark on a systematic examination of the intertwined narratives of political inclinations in the Show-Me State and maritime misfortunes across the globe. As we set our compass to navigate this peculiar terrain of inquiry, we invite fellow scholars to join us in this exploration of the interplay between seemingly disparate phenomena. The unexpected convergence of these domains prompts us to embrace a spirit of intellectual adventure, leaving no stone unturned in our quest to unravel this enigmatic nexus.

[[RESULTS]]
Upon conducting our analysis, we are pleased to report the emergence of a remarkably strong correlation between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and the frequency of global shipwrecks. The correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and an r-squared value of 0.9538335 suggest an undeniable relationship between these seemingly unconnected variables from 1980 to 2014.
The statistical significance, with a p-value of less than 0.01, further underscores the robustness of this unexpected association. It seems that the tidal waves of political preferences in the Show-Me State have indeed made a splash on the global maritime landscape.
Furthermore, the scatterplot (Fig. 1) visually depicts this connection, showcasing the tight clustering of data points and providing a compelling illustration of this surprising correlation. It's almost as if these two variables are sailing in the same boat, navigating the choppy waters of statistical analysis together.
In light of these findings, it appears that the political winds blowing through Missouri may hold some sway over the ebb and flow of maritime history across the globe. This unforeseen connection prompts a reevaluation of traditional assumptions and beckons us to consider the myriad ways in which seemingly disparate events may be inexplicably linked.
These results not only challenge our preconceived notions but also highlight the need for interdisciplinary exploration, encouraging researchers to broaden the scope of their inquiries and chart new courses of investigation. This unexpected correlation indeed invites us to navigate uncharted waters in our quest for knowledge and reinforces the adage that "where there's a Will, there's a wave."

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Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, the remarkable correlation between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in Missouri and global shipwrecks from 1980 to 2014 challenges conventional wisdom and signals a need for further investigation. The unexpectedly strong association, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01, underscores the need to navigate uncharted waters in the quest for understanding. It appears that the Show-Me State's political currents may indeed have a global ripple effect on maritime mishaps, creating a wave of influence that extends far beyond its borders. The unusual interplay between these seemingly disparate phenomena invites scholars to cast off from the safe harbor of traditional research and set sail on a voyage of interdisciplinary exploration. While the temptation to dismiss this correlation as a mere fluke may linger like a stubborn barnacle on the hull of empirical inquiry, the robustness of the statistical findings leaves us little room to navigate away from the perplexing conclusion. Therefore, in the spirit of academic integrity and perhaps a hint of whimsy, we assert that further research into this unusual nexus is not needed. After all, sometimes, in the vast sea of knowledge, it is okay to let a few mysteries remain unsolved.

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 Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Missouri and Global Shipwrecks. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

Journal of Quirky Interdisciplinary 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 Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Missouri and Global Shipwrecks. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Society for Interdisciplinary Maritime and Political Inquiry

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 Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Missouri and Global Shipwrecks with an abstract of This study aims to disentangle the enigmatic relationship between votes for the Libertarian presidential candidate in the state of Missouri and the occurrences of global shipwrecks. Leveraging data from the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse, and Wikipedia, we adopted a quantitative approach to scrutinize this curious association. Surprisingly, our analysis revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9766440 and p < 0.01 between these seemingly disparate phenomena from 1980 to 2014, defying traditional expectations. This unexpected correlation prompts the need for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms that may connect political preferences in the Show-Me State with maritime misadventures worldwide. Our findings underscore the importance of considering unconventional variables in political and maritime analyses, challenging researchers to navigate uncharted waters in the quest for new knowledge.

ChatGPT:

Libertarian presidential candidate, Missouri, global shipwrecks, correlation, quantitative analysis, political preferences, maritime misadventures, unusual variables, voting patterns, political elections, historical shipwrecks, data analysis

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

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Data details

Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri
Detailed data title: Percentage of all votes cast for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri
Source: MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Harvard Dataverse
See what else correlates with Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri

Global shipwrecks
Detailed data title: Ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during the year
Source: Wikipedia
See what else correlates with Global shipwrecks

Correlation r = 0.9766440 (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 = 0.9538335 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 95.4% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Global shipwrecks ) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri) over the 7 years from 1980 through 2014.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 0.00016.^Show 0.0001581223394677754400000000
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 0.98 in 0.016% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 6,324 random variables^Note Which I absolutely did.
with the same 6 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 6 because we have two variables measured over a period of 7 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.

[ 0.85, 1 ] 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.

	1980	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012
Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri (Percentage of votes)	0.686819	0.313515	0.487566	0.315099	0.35993	0.389238	1.56496
Global shipwrecks (Wrecks)	34	13	15	14	18	31	111

Why this works

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

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([0.686819,0.313515,0.487566,0.315099,0.35993,0.389238,1.56496,])
array_2 = np.array([34,13,15,14,18,31,111,])
array_1_name = "Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri"
array_2_name = "Global shipwrecks "

# 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 Votes for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in Missouri
Line chart for only Global shipwrecks
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay between Votes for the Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Missouri and Global Shipwrecks

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Correlation ID: 5007 · Black Variable ID: 26124 · Red Variable ID: 504


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