Spurious correlation #6,968 · 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 first name Elsa and the second variable is Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. The chart goes from 2008 to 2022, 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 first name Elsa and the second variable is Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. The chart goes from 2008 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

As more and more parents named their daughters Elsa, the demand for all things frozen, including airplane trips to colder destinations, skyrocketed. This led to a surge in interest in Malaysia Airlines, as people wanted to experience a truly 'cool' journey with the airline. The association of Elsa with ice and snow inadvertently made Malaysia Airlines the hottest choice for a 'chill' vacation, leading to an unexpected and 'frostastic' boost in Google searches. It's like the airline inadvertently became the 'happiest place to fly' for Elsa fans, and the sky was the only limit to their newfound popularity!

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: [ A photo-realistic image ] In a whimsical scene, parents around the world are naming their daughters Elsa, and the name is becoming increasingly popular. Concurrently, there is a sudden surge in Google searches for "Malaysia Airlines." The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement as people associate Elsa with all things frozen. The image of families boarding Malaysia Airlines planes, eager to experience a 'cool' journey, symbolizes the unexpected boost in popularity for both Elsa and the airline. The image shows a bustling airport terminal, with families from diverse backgrounds, dressed in winter clothing, waiting in anticipation with suitcases and boarding passes in hand. The tarmac outside is covered in a light dusting of snow, adding to the sense of excitement and adventure. The Malaysia Airlines plane on the runway is depicted with a shimmering, icy exterior, reflecting the newfound enthusiasm for a 'cool' journey symbolized by the name Elsa. 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: Popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. 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: Low poly Macabre Surrealism A photo-realistic image Voxel art
ChatGPT: A photo-realistic image

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated. You combine both variables into one scene.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that prominently depicts both Popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines', in the following situation: As more and more parents named their daughters Elsa, the demand for all things frozen, including airplane trips to colder destinations, skyrocketed. This led to a surge in interest in Malaysia Airlines, as people wanted to experience a truly 'cool' journey with the airline. The association of Elsa with ice and snow inadvertently made Malaysia Airlines the hottest choice for a 'chill' vacation, leading to an unexpected and 'frostastic' boost in Google searches. It's like the airline inadvertently became the 'happiest place to fly' for Elsa fans, and the sky was the only limit to their newfound popularity!. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a whimsical scene, parents around the world are naming their daughters Elsa, and the name is becoming increasingly popular. Concurrently, there is a sudden surge in Google searches for "Malaysia Airlines." The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement as people associate Elsa with all things frozen. The image of families boarding Malaysia Airlines planes, eager to experience a 'cool' journey, symbolizes the unexpected boost in popularity for both Elsa and the airline.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You write and improve image generation prompts for DALLE-3. You maintain the same subjects, but enhance the visuals.
User prompt: Please respond with an image generation prompt that would be likely to create an interesting visual using DALLE-3, using the following style: [ A photo-realistic image ] and depicting this scene: In a whimsical scene, parents around the world are naming their daughters Elsa, and the name is becoming increasingly popular. Concurrently, there is a sudden surge in Google searches for "Malaysia Airlines." The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement as people associate Elsa with all things frozen. The image of families boarding Malaysia Airlines planes, eager to experience a 'cool' journey, symbolizes the unexpected boost in popularity for both Elsa and the airline. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: [ A photo-realistic image ] In a whimsical scene, parents around the world are naming their daughters Elsa, and the name is becoming increasingly popular. Concurrently, there is a sudden surge in Google searches for "Malaysia Airlines." The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement as people associate Elsa with all things frozen. The image of families boarding Malaysia Airlines planes, eager to experience a 'cool' journey, symbolizes the unexpected boost in popularity for both Elsa and the airline. The image shows a bustling airport terminal, with families from diverse backgrounds, dressed in winter clothing, waiting in anticipation with suitcases and boarding passes in hand. The tarmac outside is covered in a light dusting of snow, adding to the sense of excitement and adventure. The Malaysia Airlines plane on the runway is depicted with a shimmering, icy exterior, reflecting the newfound enthusiasm for a 'cool' journey symbolized by the name Elsa.

*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 increases in Popularity of the first name Elsa positively influenced Malaysia Airlines (Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines').

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Frozen in the Algorithms: The Elsa Effect on Malaysia Airlines Searches

Journal of Internet Search Patterns

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 Popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

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

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Frozen in the Algorithms: The Elsa Effect on Malaysia Airlines Searches"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research delves into the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. We sought to ascertain whether the meteoric rise in Elsa's popularity, potentially influenced by a certain Disney movie, coincided with increased interest in Malaysia Airlines for rather inexplicable reasons. Utilizing data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends, we observed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and p < 0.01 for the time span of 2008 to 2022. Our findings offer a whimsical yet thought-provoking insight into the inexplicable wanderings of human curiosity within the wide web of the internet.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The abstruse and enigmatic nature of human behavior has long been a subject of fascination and perplexity for researchers across various disciplines. It is often the case that seemingly unrelated phenomena are found to be comically entwined, much like a pair of headphones left neglected in one’s pocket. In this paper, we undertake an investigation into the curious bond between the popularity of the first name Elsa and the temporal flux of Google searches related to Malaysia Airlines, a connection that is as unexpected as stumbling upon an errant sock stuck to the back of one’s shirt after doing laundry. The sudden ascent of Elsa as a popular first name—perhaps propelled by a certain animated film phenomenon—grants a highly fortuitous opportunity to explore the interplay of human culture and the digital landscape, reminiscent of a serendipitous encounter with a particularly amusing cat video on the internet.
The phenomenon of interest, specifically the vibrant upward trajectory of Elsa’s popularity, ignites speculation into the potential influence of popular culture on the curiosity of the online populace. This fascination is further piqued by the inexplicably heightened public attention toward Malaysia Airlines, a subject that has itself been muddled in a curious concoction of mystery and intrigue. It was with these captivating curiosities in mind that we embarked on a meticulous examination of data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends, akin to a keen-eyed inspector meticulously combing through clues in a detective novel.
The findings presented herein not only shed light on the unexpectedly intertwined fates of Elsa and Malaysia Airlines in the digital realm but also beckon the reader to ponder the whimsical and often inexplicable wanderings of human curiosity within the wide web of the internet. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and a p-value less than 0.01, the statistical likeness between these seemingly disparate variables prompts reflection on the capricious nature of human interests and the strikingly synchronous nature of seemingly unrelated phenomena, not unlike discovering that one has unwittingly worn mismatched socks for an entire day.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

In their comprehensive study, Smith and Doe (2010) found a significant association between the popularity of given names and societal trends, shedding light on the potential impact of cultural phenomena on naming practices. Furthermore, Jones et al. (2015) delved into the intricate dynamics of online search behavior and identified several intriguing patterns that underscore the capricious nature of human curiosity within the digital domain. These serious investigations provide a solid foundation for understanding the potential link between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'.

Expanding the scope of inquiry, "The Power of Names" by Abrams and Johnson (2018) offers fascinating insights into the cultural significance of given names and their potential influence on societal trends. Similarly, "The Googlization of Everything" by Vaidhyanathan (2011) explores the far-reaching implications of online search behavior and the complex interplay between digital culture and human curiosity. These resources enhance the contextual understanding of the relationship between the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines' by illuminating the broader cultural and digital landscape.

Furthermore, fictional works such as "Frozen" by Williams et al. (2013) and "Flight into Darkness" by Black (2019) provide imaginative narratives that parallel the unexpected correlation between the popularity of Elsa and searches for Malaysia Airlines. These narratives, while purely fictitious, offer a whimsical lens through which to consider the serendipitous convergence of disparate elements in human culture and digital phenomena.

Going beyond conventional scholarly sources, the present exploration also draws from eclectic avenues of inquiry. For instance, the researchers have humorously gleaned insights from improbable sources, including the wry observations in grocery store receipts and the enigmatic messages coded within fortune cookies. In doing so, the research seeks to underscore the multifaceted and often unconventional nature of scholarly inquiry, akin to stumbling upon a hidden treasure in the most unlikely of places.

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 Popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from US Social Security Administration and Google Trends . You used data from 2008 to 2022

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

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Frozen in the Algorithms: The Elsa Effect on Malaysia Airlines Searches"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research delves into the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. We sought to ascertain whether the meteoric rise in Elsa's popularity, potentially influenced by a certain Disney movie, coincided with increased interest in Malaysia Airlines for rather inexplicable reasons. Utilizing data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends, we observed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and p < 0.01 for the time span of 2008 to 2022. Our findings offer a whimsical yet thought-provoking insight into the inexplicable wanderings of human curiosity within the wide web of the internet.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The abstruse and enigmatic nature of human behavior has long been a subject of fascination and perplexity for researchers across various disciplines. It is often the case that seemingly unrelated phenomena are found to be comically entwined, much like a pair of headphones left neglected in one’s pocket. In this paper, we undertake an investigation into the curious bond between the popularity of the first name Elsa and the temporal flux of Google searches related to Malaysia Airlines, a connection that is as unexpected as stumbling upon an errant sock stuck to the back of one’s shirt after doing laundry. The sudden ascent of Elsa as a popular first name—perhaps propelled by a certain animated film phenomenon—grants a highly fortuitous opportunity to explore the interplay of human culture and the digital landscape, reminiscent of a serendipitous encounter with a particularly amusing cat video on the internet.
The phenomenon of interest, specifically the vibrant upward trajectory of Elsa’s popularity, ignites speculation into the potential influence of popular culture on the curiosity of the online populace. This fascination is further piqued by the inexplicably heightened public attention toward Malaysia Airlines, a subject that has itself been muddled in a curious concoction of mystery and intrigue. It was with these captivating curiosities in mind that we embarked on a meticulous examination of data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends, akin to a keen-eyed inspector meticulously combing through clues in a detective novel.
The findings presented herein not only shed light on the unexpectedly intertwined fates of Elsa and Malaysia Airlines in the digital realm but also beckon the reader to ponder the whimsical and often inexplicable wanderings of human curiosity within the wide web of the internet. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and a p-value less than 0.01, the statistical likeness between these seemingly disparate variables prompts reflection on the capricious nature of human interests and the strikingly synchronous nature of seemingly unrelated phenomena, not unlike discovering that one has unwittingly worn mismatched socks for an entire day.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

The initial phase of this research endeavor involved the acquisition of data pertaining to the prevalence of the first name "Elsa" and Google searches for "Malaysia Airlines." The primary source of the first name "Elsa" data was the US Social Security Administration, from which we obtained records spanning the years 2008 to 2022. This allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the temporal trends in the popularity of the name "Elsa" in the United States, providing a basis for understanding the potential impact of cultural phenomena, such as certain animated films featuring characters with said appellation.

In parallel, data on Google searches for "Malaysia Airlines" was gathered from Google Trends, a veritable treasure trove of search trend information that navigates the ebbs and flows of public interest akin to a seasoned sailor charting the unpredictable seas of the internet. The range of data obtained from Google Trends encompassed the same time period as the US Social Security Administration records, thus facilitating a comparative analysis between the fluctuating prevalence of the name "Elsa" and the temporal ebullience of searches related to Malaysia Airlines.

To discern any conceivable relationship between these ostensibly incongruous variables, a series of rigorous statistical analyses were conducted. Utilizing the aforementioned datasets, we employed multifarious analytical techniques, including but not limited to time series analysis, correlation coefficient computation, and the establishment of confidence intervals akin to building sturdy mathematical bulwarks against the tempestuous waves of spurious correlations and confounding variables.

Furthermore, to fortify our research against potential biases or confounding factors, we conducted sensitivity analyses, scrutinizing the data through various perspectives and hypothetical scenarios. This process was instrumental in ensuring that our observations were robust and not swayed by extraneous influences, analogous to conducting diplomatic negotiations while donning a pair of soundproof earmuffs to safeguard against the persuasive yet distracting cacophony of competing arguments.

The formulation of our research design was underpinned by a commitment to methodological transparency and the diligent pursuit of scientific rigor, reminiscent of a steadfast voyager navigating the convoluted currents of empirical inquiry in the vast ocean of academia. Through the amalgamation of these methodological approaches, we endeavored to unravel the enigmatic interplay between the ascent of the name "Elsa" and the waxing and waning of public interest in Malaysia Airlines, a pursuit akin to solving a delightful riddle in an unexpected setting.

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 Popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from US Social Security Administration and Google Trends .

For the time period 2008 to 2022, you found a correlation 0.9519538, r-squared of 0.9062161, 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]]
"Frozen in the Algorithms: The Elsa Effect on Malaysia Airlines Searches"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research delves into the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. We sought to ascertain whether the meteoric rise in Elsa's popularity, potentially influenced by a certain Disney movie, coincided with increased interest in Malaysia Airlines for rather inexplicable reasons. Utilizing data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends, we observed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and p < 0.01 for the time span of 2008 to 2022. Our findings offer a whimsical yet thought-provoking insight into the inexplicable wanderings of human curiosity within the wide web of the internet.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
The abstruse and enigmatic nature of human behavior has long been a subject of fascination and perplexity for researchers across various disciplines. It is often the case that seemingly unrelated phenomena are found to be comically entwined, much like a pair of headphones left neglected in one’s pocket. In this paper, we undertake an investigation into the curious bond between the popularity of the first name Elsa and the temporal flux of Google searches related to Malaysia Airlines, a connection that is as unexpected as stumbling upon an errant sock stuck to the back of one’s shirt after doing laundry. The sudden ascent of Elsa as a popular first name—perhaps propelled by a certain animated film phenomenon—grants a highly fortuitous opportunity to explore the interplay of human culture and the digital landscape, reminiscent of a serendipitous encounter with a particularly amusing cat video on the internet.
The phenomenon of interest, specifically the vibrant upward trajectory of Elsa’s popularity, ignites speculation into the potential influence of popular culture on the curiosity of the online populace. This fascination is further piqued by the inexplicably heightened public attention toward Malaysia Airlines, a subject that has itself been muddled in a curious concoction of mystery and intrigue. It was with these captivating curiosities in mind that we embarked on a meticulous examination of data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends, akin to a keen-eyed inspector meticulously combing through clues in a detective novel.
The findings presented herein not only shed light on the unexpectedly intertwined fates of Elsa and Malaysia Airlines in the digital realm but also beckon the reader to ponder the whimsical and often inexplicable wanderings of human curiosity within the wide web of the internet. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and a p-value less than 0.01, the statistical likeness between these seemingly disparate variables prompts reflection on the capricious nature of human interests and the strikingly synchronous nature of seemingly unrelated phenomena, not unlike discovering that one has unwittingly worn mismatched socks for an entire day.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]

ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

A bountiful harvest of data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.9519538, indicating a remarkably strong positive association between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines' from 2008 to 2022. The coefficient of determination, denoted by r-squared, stands at 0.9062161, signifying that approximately 90.62% of the variability in Malaysia Airlines searches can be elucidated by the fluctuations in the popularity of the name Elsa. This statistical success story translates to a p-value of less than 0.01, firmly rejecting the null hypothesis and buttressing the robustness of the observed relationship.

Figure 1 (to be inserted) encapsulates the salient findings of our investigation, depicting a scatterplot that poignantly illustrates the compelling concordance between the first name Elsa's ascent to stardom and the ebb and flow of curiosity surrounding Malaysia Airlines. This correlation, akin to the symphonic harmonies of a well-tuned orchestra, underscores the captivating interplay of seemingly unrelated variables in the digital age.

The confluence of Elsa's popularity and the vicissitudes of public interest in Malaysia Airlines exudes an aura of enchantment and captivation, akin to stumbling upon a hidden treasure in the labyrinthine corridors of the internet. The statistical substantiation of this unlikely liaison invites contemplation of the capricious nature of human whims and the enigmatic allure that permeates the cyber expanse, akin to embarking on an unforeseen adventure through the rabbit hole of intrigue.

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 first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, 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]]
"Frozen in the Algorithms: The Elsa Effect on Malaysia Airlines Searches"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research delves into the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. We sought to ascertain whether the meteoric rise in Elsa's popularity, potentially influenced by a certain Disney movie, coincided with increased interest in Malaysia Airlines for rather inexplicable reasons. Utilizing data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends, we observed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and p < 0.01 for the time span of 2008 to 2022. Our findings offer a whimsical yet thought-provoking insight into the inexplicable wanderings of human curiosity within the wide web of the internet.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
In their comprehensive study, Smith and Doe (2010) found a significant association between the popularity of given names and societal trends, shedding light on the potential impact of cultural phenomena on naming practices. Furthermore, Jones et al. (2015) delved into the intricate dynamics of online search behavior and identified several intriguing patterns that underscore the capricious nature of human curiosity within the digital domain. These serious investigations provide a solid foundation for understanding the potential link between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'.
Expanding the scope of inquiry, "The Power of Names" by Abrams and Johnson (2018) offers fascinating insights into the cultural significance of given names and their potential influence on societal trends. Similarly, "The Googlization of Everything" by Vaidhyanathan (2011) explores the far-reaching implications of online search behavior and the complex interplay between digital culture and human curiosity. These resources enhance the contextual understanding of the relationship between the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines' by illuminating the broader cultural and digital landscape.
Furthermore, fictional works such as "Frozen" by Williams et al. (2013) and "Flight into Darkness" by Black (2019) provide imaginative narratives that parallel the unexpected correlation between the popularity of Elsa and searches for Malaysia Airlines. These narratives, while purely fictitious, offer a whimsical lens through which to consider the serendipitous convergence of disparate elements in human culture and digital phenomena.
Going beyond conventional scholarly sources, the present exploration also draws from eclectic avenues of inquiry. For instance, the researchers have humorously gleaned insights from improbable sources, including the wry observations in grocery store receipts and the enigmatic messages coded within fortune cookies. In doing so, the research seeks to underscore the multifaceted and often unconventional nature of scholarly inquiry, akin to stumbling upon a hidden treasure in the most unlikely of places.

[[RESULTS]]
A bountiful harvest of data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.9519538, indicating a remarkably strong positive association between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines' from 2008 to 2022. The coefficient of determination, denoted by r-squared, stands at 0.9062161, signifying that approximately 90.62% of the variability in Malaysia Airlines searches can be elucidated by the fluctuations in the popularity of the name Elsa. This statistical success story translates to a p-value of less than 0.01, firmly rejecting the null hypothesis and buttressing the robustness of the observed relationship.
Figure 1 (to be inserted) encapsulates the salient findings of our investigation, depicting a scatterplot that poignantly illustrates the compelling concordance between the first name Elsa's ascent to stardom and the ebb and flow of curiosity surrounding Malaysia Airlines. This correlation, akin to the symphonic harmonies of a well-tuned orchestra, underscores the captivating interplay of seemingly unrelated variables in the digital age.
The confluence of Elsa's popularity and the vicissitudes of public interest in Malaysia Airlines exudes an aura of enchantment and captivation, akin to stumbling upon a hidden treasure in the labyrinthine corridors of the internet. The statistical substantiation of this unlikely liaison invites contemplation of the capricious nature of human whims and the enigmatic allure that permeates the cyber expanse, akin to embarking on an unforeseen adventure through the rabbit hole of intrigue.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The findings of this study bolster the prior research that examined the profound impact of cultural phenomena on online search behavior. Smith and Doe (2010)'s revelation about the interplay between given names and societal trends finds striking support in our observation of the robust association between the first name Elsa's popularity and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. Similarly, Jones et al. (2015)'s disclosure of the capricious nature of human curiosity within the digital domain finds an echo in the whimsical yet thought-provoking insight offered by our own findings.

Engaging with the profound insights of "The Power of Names" by Abrams and Johnson (2018), our study delves into the influential role of given names in reflecting and potentially shaping cultural trends, as evidenced by the unexpected alliance between Elsa's popularity and Malaysia Airlines searches. Furthermore, the far-reaching implications of online search behavior expounded upon in "The Googlization of Everything" by Vaidhyanathan (2011) find a vivid illustration in the compelling concordance between the first name Elsa's ascent to stardom and the ebb and flow of curiosity surrounding Malaysia Airlines.

Drawing from the fictitious narratives of "Frozen" by Williams et al. (2013) and "Flight into Darkness" by Black (2019), our study elevates the seemingly whimsical correlation between the popularity of Elsa and searches for Malaysia Airlines to a realm of empirical validation. As improbable as it may seem, this unexpected correlation serves as a poignant reminder of the serendipitous convergence of disparate elements in human culture and digital phenomena.

The present study also draws from rather unusual sources, such as the wry observations in grocery store receipts and the enigmatic messages coded within fortune cookies. While these sources may seem frivolous at first glance, they underscore the multifaceted and often unconventional nature of scholarly inquiry, akin to stumbling upon a hidden treasure in the most unlikely of places. In embracing such unconventional sources, we uncover the enigmatic allure and capricious nature that permeates the cyber expanse, akin to embarking on an unforeseen adventure through the rabbit hole of intrigue.

In conclusion, this study buttresses the existing body of research on the intersection of cultural phenomena and digital behavior, shedding light on the unpredictably captivating interplay between the popularity of a given name and online search curiosity. As we embark on further explorations in this domain, let us not forget the unlikely treasures that can be unearthed amidst the labyrinthine corridors of scholarly 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 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 first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, 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]]
"Frozen in the Algorithms: The Elsa Effect on Malaysia Airlines Searches"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This research delves into the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. We sought to ascertain whether the meteoric rise in Elsa's popularity, potentially influenced by a certain Disney movie, coincided with increased interest in Malaysia Airlines for rather inexplicable reasons. Utilizing data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends, we observed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and p < 0.01 for the time span of 2008 to 2022. Our findings offer a whimsical yet thought-provoking insight into the inexplicable wanderings of human curiosity within the wide web of the internet.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The abstruse and enigmatic nature of human behavior has long been a subject of fascination and perplexity for researchers across various disciplines. It is often the case that seemingly unrelated phenomena are found to be comically entwined, much like a pair of headphones left neglected in one’s pocket. In this paper, we undertake an investigation into the curious bond between the popularity of the first name Elsa and the temporal flux of Google searches related to Malaysia Airlines, a connection that is as unexpected as stumbling upon an errant sock stuck to the back of one’s shirt after doing laundry. The sudden ascent of Elsa as a popular first name—perhaps propelled by a certain animated film phenomenon—grants a highly fortuitous opportunity to explore the interplay of human culture and the digital landscape, reminiscent of a serendipitous encounter with a particularly amusing cat video on the internet.
The phenomenon of interest, specifically the vibrant upward trajectory of Elsa’s popularity, ignites speculation into the potential influence of popular culture on the curiosity of the online populace. This fascination is further piqued by the inexplicably heightened public attention toward Malaysia Airlines, a subject that has itself been muddled in a curious concoction of mystery and intrigue. It was with these captivating curiosities in mind that we embarked on a meticulous examination of data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends, akin to a keen-eyed inspector meticulously combing through clues in a detective novel.
The findings presented herein not only shed light on the unexpectedly intertwined fates of Elsa and Malaysia Airlines in the digital realm but also beckon the reader to ponder the whimsical and often inexplicable wanderings of human curiosity within the wide web of the internet. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and a p-value less than 0.01, the statistical likeness between these seemingly disparate variables prompts reflection on the capricious nature of human interests and the strikingly synchronous nature of seemingly unrelated phenomena, not unlike discovering that one has unwittingly worn mismatched socks for an entire day.

[[RESULTS]]
A bountiful harvest of data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.9519538, indicating a remarkably strong positive association between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines' from 2008 to 2022. The coefficient of determination, denoted by r-squared, stands at 0.9062161, signifying that approximately 90.62% of the variability in Malaysia Airlines searches can be elucidated by the fluctuations in the popularity of the name Elsa. This statistical success story translates to a p-value of less than 0.01, firmly rejecting the null hypothesis and buttressing the robustness of the observed relationship.
Figure 1 (to be inserted) encapsulates the salient findings of our investigation, depicting a scatterplot that poignantly illustrates the compelling concordance between the first name Elsa's ascent to stardom and the ebb and flow of curiosity surrounding Malaysia Airlines. This correlation, akin to the symphonic harmonies of a well-tuned orchestra, underscores the captivating interplay of seemingly unrelated variables in the digital age.
The confluence of Elsa's popularity and the vicissitudes of public interest in Malaysia Airlines exudes an aura of enchantment and captivation, akin to stumbling upon a hidden treasure in the labyrinthine corridors of the internet. The statistical substantiation of this unlikely liaison invites contemplation of the capricious nature of human whims and the enigmatic allure that permeates the cyber expanse, akin to embarking on an unforeseen adventure through the rabbit hole of intrigue.

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Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

The inextricable link between the burgeoning popularity of the first name Elsa and the resolute surge in Google searches for Malaysia Airlines serves as a veritable testament to the marvels of statistical happenstance in the digital age. The robust correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and a p-value of less than 0.01 not only beckon forth an unparalleled symphony of seemingly discordant variables but also bestow upon us a rare peek into the whimsical caprices of the human mind as it traverses the vast expanse of the internet.

As we reflect upon this arcane alliance between a beloved first name and an enigmatic airline, we are reminded of the meticulously plotted twists and turns of a whimsical storyline, where unexpected characters cross paths in the most unforeseen of circumstances. Indeed, the statistical congruence between Elsa's rising stardom and the tempestuous peaks and valleys of public intrigue in Malaysia Airlines paints a vivid picture not unlike a surreptitious rendezvous between two erstwhile strangers in the bustling bazaar of human curiosity.

In the grand tapestry of research endeavors, this peculiar dalliance between the immortalized name and the enthralling airline has imparted us with profound insights into the kaleidoscopic nature of human fascination, as unpredictable and captivating as stumbling upon a riveting tale amidst the dusty tomes of an old library. With such a resounding statistical resonance between two seemingly incongruous elements, it is tempting to declare that this serendipitous nexus has been thoroughly unraveled and illuminated.

Hence, in the spirit of scientific inquiry and with due consideration for the pursuit of further enlightenment, we daresay that no proverbial stones need to be overturned, and no more journeys through the labyrinthine corridors of data are warranted in pursuit of this whimsical confluence. For now, let us revel in the delightful absurdity of this curious connection, much like the inexplicable joy derived from stumbling upon a perfectly-formed pun in the course of otherwise serious research.

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 Frozen in the Algorithms: The Elsa Effect on Malaysia Airlines Searches. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

Journal of Internet Search Patterns

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 Frozen in the Algorithms: The Elsa Effect on Malaysia Airlines Searches. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

Society for the Advancement of Digital Anthropology and Pop Culture 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 Frozen in the Algorithms: The Elsa Effect on Malaysia Airlines Searches with an abstract of This research delves into the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name Elsa and Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'. We sought to ascertain whether the meteoric rise in Elsa's popularity, potentially influenced by a certain Disney movie, coincided with increased interest in Malaysia Airlines for rather inexplicable reasons. Utilizing data from the US Social Security Administration and Google Trends, we observed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9519538 and p < 0.01 for the time span of 2008 to 2022. Our findings offer a whimsical yet thought-provoking insight into the inexplicable wanderings of human curiosity within the wide web of the internet.

ChatGPT:

Elsa, Malaysia Airlines, Google searches, correlation, popularity, first name, Disney movie, US Social Security Administration, Google Trends, correlation coefficient, human curiosity, internet, 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

Popularity of the first name Elsa
Detailed data title: Babies of all sexes born in the US named Elsa
Source: US Social Security Administration
See what else correlates with Popularity of the first name Elsa

Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'
Detailed data title: Relative volume of Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines' (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 'Malaysia Airlines'

Correlation r = 0.9519538 (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 = 0.9062161 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 90.6% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines') is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Popularity of the first name Elsa) over the 15 years from 2008 through 2022.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 4.7E-8.^Show 0.0000000471944306861772200000
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 0.95 in 4.7E-6% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 21,188,941 random variables^Note You don't actually need 21 million variables to find a correlation like this one. I don't have that many variables in my database. You can also correlate variables that are not independent. I do this a lot.

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

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

Just to be clear: I'm being completely transparent about the calculations. There is no math trickery. This is just how statistics shakes out when you calculate hundreds of millions of random correlations.
with the same 14 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 14 because we have two variables measured over a period of 15 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.

[ 0.86, 0.98 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
^{Read more about the confidence interval} The confidence interval is an estimate the range of the value of the correlation coefficient, using the correlation itself as an input. The values are meant to be the low and high end of the correlation coefficient with 95% confidence.

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

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

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

	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Popularity of the first name Elsa (Babies born)	412	426	487	499	542	566	1140	658	477	425	303	350	282	275	262
Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines' (Rel. search volume)	2.08333	2.75	3.5	3.25	3.91667	4.83333	17.9167	4.75	2.91667	2.5	2.25	2	1.375	1	1.75

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([412,426,487,499,542,566,1140,658,477,425,303,350,282,275,262,])
array_2 = np.array([2.08333,2.75,3.5,3.25,3.91667,4.83333,17.9167,4.75,2.91667,2.5,2.25,2,1.375,1,1.75,])
array_1_name = "Popularity of the first name Elsa"
array_2_name = "Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'"

# 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 first name Elsa
Line chart for only Google searches for 'Malaysia Airlines'
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Frozen in the Algorithms: The Elsa Effect on Malaysia Airlines Searches

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Correlation ID: 6968 · Black Variable ID: 3528 · Red Variable ID: 1441


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