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Spurious correlation #1,189 · 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 Rylan and the second variable is Customer satisfaction with JCPenney.  The chart goes from 1994 to 2020, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

Every time someone named Rylan walked into JCPenney, they unknowingly emitted a pheromone that made everyone around them inexplicably happy with their shopping experience. This led to a surge in customer satisfaction, prompting JCPenney to consider hiring a Rylan greeter at every entrance.

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Prompt: Generate a parallax art-style image of a bustling JCPenney store, depicting people browsing through racks of clothes and trying on shoes. Suddenly, a group of customers named Rylan enters the store, and the atmosphere subtly changes. Show the people around them smiling and nodding, with the overall mood becoming noticeably brighter. It's as if a wave of positive energy has swept through the store, and everyone seems to be enjoying their shopping experience a little bit more. Ensure that the visual depiction maintains simplicity and does not include any words or speech bubbles. 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 situation described. You respond only with the scene descriptions provided and say nothing else.
User prompt: Here is a situation: An increase in the popularity of the first name Rylan caused customer satisfaction with JCPenney to increase because every time someone named Rylan walked into the store, they unknowingly emitted a pheromone that made everyone around them inexplicably happy with their shopping experience.. Given that situation, which of the following image descriptions seems most appropriate? Pick the one that seems to be related to one of the variables at hand and the tone of the explanation. Please respond with only one of the following potential descriptions: Glitch art A Discovery magazine cover image Vaporwave Parallax art Parallax art
ChatGPT: Parallax art

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated and the explanation described. Do not reference graphs or charts; describe physical objects.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that depicts the following situation. Keep the description simple. An increase in the popularity of the first name Rylan caused customer satisfaction with JCPenney to increase because every time someone named Rylan walked into the store, they unknowingly emitted a pheromone that made everyone around them inexplicably happy with their shopping experience.
ChatGPT: Imagine a bustling JCPenney store with people browsing through racks of clothes and trying on shoes. Suddenly, a group of customers named Rylan enters the store and the atmosphere subtly changes. People around them start to smile and nod, and the overall mood becomes noticeably brighter. It's as if a wave of positive energy has swept through the store, and everyone seems to be enjoying their shopping experience a little bit more.

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: [ Parallax art ] and depicting this scene: Imagine a bustling JCPenney store with people browsing through racks of clothes and trying on shoes. Suddenly, a group of customers named Rylan enters the store and the atmosphere subtly changes. People around them start to smile and nod, and the overall mood becomes noticeably brighter. It's as if a wave of positive energy has swept through the store, and everyone seems to be enjoying their shopping experience a little bit more. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Prompt: Generate a parallax art-style image of a bustling JCPenney store, depicting people browsing through racks of clothes and trying on shoes. Suddenly, a group of customers named Rylan enters the store, and the atmosphere subtly changes. Show the people around them smiling and nodding, with the overall mood becoming noticeably brighter. It's as if a wave of positive energy has swept through the store, and everyone seems to be enjoying their shopping experience a little bit more. Ensure that the visual depiction maintains simplicity and does not include any words or speech bubbles.

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

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

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how an increase in Popularity of the first name Rylan caused Customer satisfaction with JCPenney to increase.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction

The Journal of Retail Trends and Consumer Behavior

Jan 2024

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




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

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rylan and Customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Make the title seem clever.

Your research team used data from US Social Security Administration and American Customer Satisfaction Index to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 and p < 0.01 for 1994 to 2020.

Please respond in this format (replace "Lorem ipsum dolor sit" with your title and abstract)

[[TITLE]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit

[[ABSTRACT]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit



ChatGPT:
[[TITLE]]
The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper explores the intriguing relationship between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Drawing data from the US Social Security Administration and the American Customer Satisfaction Index, our research team undertook a playful yet insightful inquiry into this curious correlation. To our amusement, we discovered a notable correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 and p < 0.01 over the period of 1994 to 2020. Our findings suggest that there may indeed be a "Rylan effect" at play, impacting customer perceptions and shopping experiences at JCPenney. Join us in this whimsical journey as we unravel the mysterious connection between a name and retail contentment. After all, as Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!"


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

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rylan and Customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper explores the intriguing relationship between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Drawing data from the US Social Security Administration and the American Customer Satisfaction Index, our research team undertook a playful yet insightful inquiry into this curious correlation. To our amusement, we discovered a notable correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 and p < 0.01 over the period of 1994 to 2020. Our findings suggest that there may indeed be a "Rylan effect" at play, impacting customer perceptions and shopping experiences at JCPenney. Join us in this whimsical journey as we unravel the mysterious connection between a name and retail contentment. After all, as Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!"

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

In the mystical realm of statistics and survey data, where correlation coefficients reign supreme and p-values hold the scepter of significance, our research team embarked on a fantastical quest to untangle the enigmatic web woven between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. The labyrinthine corridors of academia whispered rumors of a peculiar connection, an improbable alliance between nomenclature and retail contentment.

As we ventured forth armed with SPSS and an arsenal of research articles, we found ourselves face to face with the elusive "Rylan effect." Like intrepid explorers navigating through uncharted statistical territories, we navigated the intersecting axes of birth registries and customer surveys, seeking patterns and relationships that defied conventional wisdom – or even common sense.

From the depths of the US Social Security Administration's name popularity records and the lofty peaks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we meticulously gathered our data, prepared to confront the unexpected, the bizarre, and perhaps even the downright absurd. And absurd it was, as we encountered a correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 with a p-value strutting confidently beneath the 0.01 threshold, much like a magician performing a grand illusion – though this, of course, was no mere trick of the mind.

In the spirit of scientific curiosity and the tradition of rigorous inquiry, we invite you to join us on this whimsical pursuit, where we gallivant through the realm of statistics and name trends, seeking the elusive threads that bind Rylan's popularity to the whims and fancies of JCPenney's patrons. The bard himself, William Shakespeare, once mused, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!" So let us embark on this lighthearted expedition, armed with curiosity, a pinch of whimsy, and a generous portion of statistical prowess, as we seek to unravel the ineffable mystery of the "Rylan effect."


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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rylan and Customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

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

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper explores the intriguing relationship between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Drawing data from the US Social Security Administration and the American Customer Satisfaction Index, our research team undertook a playful yet insightful inquiry into this curious correlation. To our amusement, we discovered a notable correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 and p < 0.01 over the period of 1994 to 2020. Our findings suggest that there may indeed be a "Rylan effect" at play, impacting customer perceptions and shopping experiences at JCPenney. Join us in this whimsical journey as we unravel the mysterious connection between a name and retail contentment. After all, as Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!"

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
In the mystical realm of statistics and survey data, where correlation coefficients reign supreme and p-values hold the scepter of significance, our research team embarked on a fantastical quest to untangle the enigmatic web woven between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. The labyrinthine corridors of academia whispered rumors of a peculiar connection, an improbable alliance between nomenclature and retail contentment.
As we ventured forth armed with SPSS and an arsenal of research articles, we found ourselves face to face with the elusive "Rylan effect." Like intrepid explorers navigating through uncharted statistical territories, we navigated the intersecting axes of birth registries and customer surveys, seeking patterns and relationships that defied conventional wisdom – or even common sense.
From the depths of the US Social Security Administration's name popularity records and the lofty peaks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we meticulously gathered our data, prepared to confront the unexpected, the bizarre, and perhaps even the downright absurd. And absurd it was, as we encountered a correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 with a p-value strutting confidently beneath the 0.01 threshold, much like a magician performing a grand illusion – though this, of course, was no mere trick of the mind.
In the spirit of scientific curiosity and the tradition of rigorous inquiry, we invite you to join us on this whimsical pursuit, where we gallivant through the realm of statistics and name trends, seeking the elusive threads that bind Rylan's popularity to the whims and fancies of JCPenney's patrons. The bard himself, William Shakespeare, once mused, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!" So let us embark on this lighthearted expedition, armed with curiosity, a pinch of whimsy, and a generous portion of statistical prowess, as we seek to unravel the ineffable mystery of the "Rylan effect."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

In "Smith et al.," the authors find that the popularity of first names has a subtle yet intriguing influence on various aspects of individuals' lives. While their study does not explicitly explore the specific impact of the name "Rylan," it sets the stage for our investigation into the potential connection between nomenclature and customer satisfaction at JCPenney. Furthermore, Doe's research on consumer behavior sheds light on the role of subconscious associations and their influence on retail preferences, providing a theoretical framework for our exploration of the "Rylan effect."

Jones, in their comprehensive analysis of retail customer satisfaction, identifies numerous factors that contribute to patrons' contentment, ranging from service quality to product variety. However, a critical gap in the literature emerges – none have delved into the quirky and improbable relationship between the prevalence of the name "Rylan" and the shopping experiences at JCPenney. This oversight has primed our inquisitive minds to embark on an unconventional and mirthful investigation.

Moving beyond the confines of traditional academic literature, we turn to non-fiction works with potential relevance to our whimsical inquiry. In "Freakonomics," Levitt and Dubner observe unlikely correlations in diverse domains, prompting us to consider the equally improbable "Rylan effect" in the context of retail consumer behavior. As we peer into the intersection of empirical data and societal trends, "Nudge" by Thaler and Sunstein provides insights into the subtle nudges that influence decision-making, inviting us, perhaps whimsically, to ponder whether the name "Rylan" serves as an unexpected nudge in the realm of JCPenney patronage.

Venturing further into uncharted literary territory, we encounter fictional narratives that, though seemingly unrelated to statistical analyses and consumer satisfaction, offer unexpected parallels with our research endeavors. The tale of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," as penned by Carroll, invites us to embrace the absurdity and curiosity that underpin our exploration of the "Rylan effect." Likewise, Murakami's "Kafka on the Shore" weaves a surreal tapestry of interconnectedness, prompting us to consider the improbable threads that may bind a name to the whims of retail patrons.

As we daringly leap across disciplines and genres, we venture into the whimsical world of children's animation, drawing insights from seemingly incongruous sources. The playful escapades of "SpongeBob SquarePants" offer a nuanced understanding of customer satisfaction and peculiar influences, reminding us to approach our investigation with a lighthearted spirit. Simultaneously, the enigmatic allure of "Gravity Falls" beckons us to unravel mysteries that defy conventional logic, mirroring our pursuit of the whimsical and unfathomable "Rylan effect."

In this lighthearted expedition, we embrace a mosaic of influences – from academic treatises to fictional tales and whimsical animations – as we endeavor to unravel the conundrum of Rylan's popularity and its potential impact on customer satisfaction at JCPenney. Join us as we embark on this exuberant and unconventional journey, guided by a spirit of curiosity, a pinch of whimsy, and an unwavering commitment to unraveling the ineffable mystery of the "Rylan effect."


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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rylan and Customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Make lots of 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 American Customer Satisfaction Index . You used data from 1994 to 2020

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]]
The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper explores the intriguing relationship between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Drawing data from the US Social Security Administration and the American Customer Satisfaction Index, our research team undertook a playful yet insightful inquiry into this curious correlation. To our amusement, we discovered a notable correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 and p < 0.01 over the period of 1994 to 2020. Our findings suggest that there may indeed be a "Rylan effect" at play, impacting customer perceptions and shopping experiences at JCPenney. Join us in this whimsical journey as we unravel the mysterious connection between a name and retail contentment. After all, as Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!"

[[INTRODUCTION]]
In the mystical realm of statistics and survey data, where correlation coefficients reign supreme and p-values hold the scepter of significance, our research team embarked on a fantastical quest to untangle the enigmatic web woven between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. The labyrinthine corridors of academia whispered rumors of a peculiar connection, an improbable alliance between nomenclature and retail contentment.
As we ventured forth armed with SPSS and an arsenal of research articles, we found ourselves face to face with the elusive "Rylan effect." Like intrepid explorers navigating through uncharted statistical territories, we navigated the intersecting axes of birth registries and customer surveys, seeking patterns and relationships that defied conventional wisdom – or even common sense.
From the depths of the US Social Security Administration's name popularity records and the lofty peaks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we meticulously gathered our data, prepared to confront the unexpected, the bizarre, and perhaps even the downright absurd. And absurd it was, as we encountered a correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 with a p-value strutting confidently beneath the 0.01 threshold, much like a magician performing a grand illusion – though this, of course, was no mere trick of the mind.
In the spirit of scientific curiosity and the tradition of rigorous inquiry, we invite you to join us on this whimsical pursuit, where we gallivant through the realm of statistics and name trends, seeking the elusive threads that bind Rylan's popularity to the whims and fancies of JCPenney's patrons. The bard himself, William Shakespeare, once mused, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!" So let us embark on this lighthearted expedition, armed with curiosity, a pinch of whimsy, and a generous portion of statistical prowess, as we seek to unravel the ineffable mystery of the "Rylan effect."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To investigate the perplexing "Rylan effect" and its possible influence on customer satisfaction with JCPenney, our research team concocted a whimsical yet robust methodology that involved equal parts statistical rigor and playful exploration. With the aim of capturing the essence of this peculiar correlation, we employed a multifaceted approach that whimsically wandered through birth registries, customer satisfaction surveys, and an assortment of statistical techniques that rivaled the complexity of a magician's grand illusion.

### Data Collection and Preparation
To commence our merry adventure, we delved into the depths of the US Social Security Administration's vast repository of nomenclature, where the popularity of the name "Rylan" awaited our scrutiny. Mirth welled within us as we perused the annals of birth registries from 1994 to 2020, extracting the frequencies of lilting "Rylans" with the fervor of treasure seekers unearthing a hoard of whimsy-infused data nuggets.

Simultaneously, we dipped our toes into the enchanting waters of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, frolicking through customer surveys and feedback realms reminiscent of a whimsical marketplace, where patrons shared their delightful tales of JCPenney encounters. With the meticulousness of a potion-brewing alchemist, we lovingly extracted and harmonized the temporal threads of these surveys, preparing them for the rhythmic dance of statistical inquiry to come.

### Statistical Analysis
Armed with an arsenal of statistical tools that gleamed with the luster of an academic wizard's spell book, we initiated our mirthful exploration of correlations, p-values, and other mystical incantations. Through the enchanting incantations of SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), we summoned the ethereal correlation coefficient, which proved to be a wondrous 0.6380781. Its p-value twirled beneath the mystical 0.01 threshold, casting a spell of significance that would make even the most seasoned magician envious.

As we gaze upon these results, a spark of curiosity ignites within us, much like a firework of statistical amazement. The mystical dance of the trends, twirling like ballerinas in a dimension beyond the ordinary, beckoned us to unravel their secrets—a task we approached with zeal, a dash of whimsy, and perhaps a sprinkle of statistical fairy dust.

In the midst of this fantastical journey, we embraced the unexpected and celebrated the curious, for in the world of statistics and whimsy, the improbable often conceals the most wondrous truths. So, with a twinkle in our eyes and a skip in our statistical step, we present our findings as an invitation for fellow seekers of correlation enigma to join us in deciphering the enigmatic "Rylan effect" and its curious connection to JCPenney customer satisfaction.



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

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rylan and Customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Make lots of 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 American Customer Satisfaction Index .

For the time period 1994 to 2020, you found a correlation 0.6380781, r-squared of 0.4071436, 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]]
The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper explores the intriguing relationship between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Drawing data from the US Social Security Administration and the American Customer Satisfaction Index, our research team undertook a playful yet insightful inquiry into this curious correlation. To our amusement, we discovered a notable correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 and p < 0.01 over the period of 1994 to 2020. Our findings suggest that there may indeed be a "Rylan effect" at play, impacting customer perceptions and shopping experiences at JCPenney. Join us in this whimsical journey as we unravel the mysterious connection between a name and retail contentment. After all, as Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!"

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
In the mystical realm of statistics and survey data, where correlation coefficients reign supreme and p-values hold the scepter of significance, our research team embarked on a fantastical quest to untangle the enigmatic web woven between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. The labyrinthine corridors of academia whispered rumors of a peculiar connection, an improbable alliance between nomenclature and retail contentment.
As we ventured forth armed with SPSS and an arsenal of research articles, we found ourselves face to face with the elusive "Rylan effect." Like intrepid explorers navigating through uncharted statistical territories, we navigated the intersecting axes of birth registries and customer surveys, seeking patterns and relationships that defied conventional wisdom – or even common sense.
From the depths of the US Social Security Administration's name popularity records and the lofty peaks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we meticulously gathered our data, prepared to confront the unexpected, the bizarre, and perhaps even the downright absurd. And absurd it was, as we encountered a correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 with a p-value strutting confidently beneath the 0.01 threshold, much like a magician performing a grand illusion – though this, of course, was no mere trick of the mind.
In the spirit of scientific curiosity and the tradition of rigorous inquiry, we invite you to join us on this whimsical pursuit, where we gallivant through the realm of statistics and name trends, seeking the elusive threads that bind Rylan's popularity to the whims and fancies of JCPenney's patrons. The bard himself, William Shakespeare, once mused, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!" So let us embark on this lighthearted expedition, armed with curiosity, a pinch of whimsy, and a generous portion of statistical prowess, as we seek to unravel the ineffable mystery of the "Rylan effect."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

Our investigation into the correlation between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney yielded some surprisingly substantial results that made us rub our eyes and check our calculators a few times. The data revealed a robust correlation coefficient of 0.6380781, indicating a moderately strong positive relationship between Rylan's popularity and JCPenney customer satisfaction. This coefficient had us doing a double take, like a magician revealing a truly mind-boggling trick – because, let's be honest, who would've thought a name could have such an impact on shopping satisfaction?

Not to be outdone, our analysis also unveiled an r-squared value of 0.4071436, suggesting that a whopping 40.71% of the variance in customer satisfaction with JCPenney could be explained by the popularity of the name "Rylan." It's as though Rylan's popularity holds the key to a significant chunk of the puzzle that determines JCPenney shoppers' level of contentment. One could say that the "Rylan effect" has the statistical power to stir the waves of consumer sentiment – a realization that left us equal parts astounded and amused.

Furthermore, our findings were accompanied by a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a level of significance that would make even the most seasoned statisticians raise an eyebrow. The evidence was clear: the connection between the name "Rylan" and JCPenney customer satisfaction was no statistical fluke. We were staring at a correlation that seemed to defy the ordinary laws of research and beckon us into a world of whimsy and wonder.

To capture the essence of this enthralling correlation, we present Figure 1, a scatterplot that captures the undeniable link between Rylan's popularity and JCPenney customer satisfaction. Prepare to be delighted – much like we were – by the sight of these two seemingly disparate variables frolicking together on a graph, showcasing their unexpected camaraderie. It's almost as if the statistical gods themselves conspired to shine a spotlight on this remarkable relationship, leaving us both amazed and gleefully perplexed.

In the end, our results point to a connection that defies the conventional wisdom of research, urging us to explore the quirky and the uncharted with a playful spirit. The "Rylan effect," it seems, has woven itself into the fabric of consumer experience, inviting us to ponder the whimsical and the unexpected in the ever-enthralling world of statistics and human behavior.


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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rylan and Customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

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

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

[[TITLE]]
The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper explores the intriguing relationship between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Drawing data from the US Social Security Administration and the American Customer Satisfaction Index, our research team undertook a playful yet insightful inquiry into this curious correlation. To our amusement, we discovered a notable correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 and p < 0.01 over the period of 1994 to 2020. Our findings suggest that there may indeed be a "Rylan effect" at play, impacting customer perceptions and shopping experiences at JCPenney. Join us in this whimsical journey as we unravel the mysterious connection between a name and retail contentment. After all, as Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!"

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
In "Smith et al.," the authors find that the popularity of first names has a subtle yet intriguing influence on various aspects of individuals' lives. While their study does not explicitly explore the specific impact of the name "Rylan," it sets the stage for our investigation into the potential connection between nomenclature and customer satisfaction at JCPenney. Furthermore, Doe's research on consumer behavior sheds light on the role of subconscious associations and their influence on retail preferences, providing a theoretical framework for our exploration of the "Rylan effect."
Jones, in their comprehensive analysis of retail customer satisfaction, identifies numerous factors that contribute to patrons' contentment, ranging from service quality to product variety. However, a critical gap in the literature emerges – none have delved into the quirky and improbable relationship between the prevalence of the name "Rylan" and the shopping experiences at JCPenney. This oversight has primed our inquisitive minds to embark on an unconventional and mirthful investigation.
Moving beyond the confines of traditional academic literature, we turn to non-fiction works with potential relevance to our whimsical inquiry. In "Freakonomics," Levitt and Dubner observe unlikely correlations in diverse domains, prompting us to consider the equally improbable "Rylan effect" in the context of retail consumer behavior. As we peer into the intersection of empirical data and societal trends, "Nudge" by Thaler and Sunstein provides insights into the subtle nudges that influence decision-making, inviting us, perhaps whimsically, to ponder whether the name "Rylan" serves as an unexpected nudge in the realm of JCPenney patronage.
Venturing further into uncharted literary territory, we encounter fictional narratives that, though seemingly unrelated to statistical analyses and consumer satisfaction, offer unexpected parallels with our research endeavors. The tale of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," as penned by Carroll, invites us to embrace the absurdity and curiosity that underpin our exploration of the "Rylan effect." Likewise, Murakami's "Kafka on the Shore" weaves a surreal tapestry of interconnectedness, prompting us to consider the improbable threads that may bind a name to the whims of retail patrons.
As we daringly leap across disciplines and genres, we venture into the whimsical world of children's animation, drawing insights from seemingly incongruous sources. The playful escapades of "SpongeBob SquarePants" offer a nuanced understanding of customer satisfaction and peculiar influences, reminding us to approach our investigation with a lighthearted spirit. Simultaneously, the enigmatic allure of "Gravity Falls" beckons us to unravel mysteries that defy conventional logic, mirroring our pursuit of the whimsical and unfathomable "Rylan effect."
In this lighthearted expedition, we embrace a mosaic of influences – from academic treatises to fictional tales and whimsical animations – as we endeavor to unravel the conundrum of Rylan's popularity and its potential impact on customer satisfaction at JCPenney. Join us as we embark on this exuberant and unconventional journey, guided by a spirit of curiosity, a pinch of whimsy, and an unwavering commitment to unraveling the ineffable mystery of the "Rylan effect."

[[RESULTS]]
Our investigation into the correlation between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney yielded some surprisingly substantial results that made us rub our eyes and check our calculators a few times. The data revealed a robust correlation coefficient of 0.6380781, indicating a moderately strong positive relationship between Rylan's popularity and JCPenney customer satisfaction. This coefficient had us doing a double take, like a magician revealing a truly mind-boggling trick – because, let's be honest, who would've thought a name could have such an impact on shopping satisfaction?
Not to be outdone, our analysis also unveiled an r-squared value of 0.4071436, suggesting that a whopping 40.71% of the variance in customer satisfaction with JCPenney could be explained by the popularity of the name "Rylan." It's as though Rylan's popularity holds the key to a significant chunk of the puzzle that determines JCPenney shoppers' level of contentment. One could say that the "Rylan effect" has the statistical power to stir the waves of consumer sentiment – a realization that left us equal parts astounded and amused.
Furthermore, our findings were accompanied by a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a level of significance that would make even the most seasoned statisticians raise an eyebrow. The evidence was clear: the connection between the name "Rylan" and JCPenney customer satisfaction was no statistical fluke. We were staring at a correlation that seemed to defy the ordinary laws of research and beckon us into a world of whimsy and wonder.
To capture the essence of this enthralling correlation, we present Figure 1, a scatterplot that captures the undeniable link between Rylan's popularity and JCPenney customer satisfaction. Prepare to be delighted – much like we were – by the sight of these two seemingly disparate variables frolicking together on a graph, showcasing their unexpected camaraderie. It's almost as if the statistical gods themselves conspired to shine a spotlight on this remarkable relationship, leaving us both amazed and gleefully perplexed.
In the end, our results point to a connection that defies the conventional wisdom of research, urging us to explore the quirky and the uncharted with a playful spirit. The "Rylan effect," it seems, has woven itself into the fabric of consumer experience, inviting us to ponder the whimsical and the unexpected in the ever-enthralling world of statistics and human behavior.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

Ah, the whimsical and inexplicable "Rylan effect" has left us both scratching our heads and chuckling at the statistical oddity that has unfolded before our eyes. Our study has not only confirmed the connection between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney but also heightened our appreciation for the unpredictable quirks that science, statistics, and the human experience can throw our way.

As we delve into the discussion of our findings, let us first pay tribute to the intrepid scholars who, like us, have delved into the unlikely and the delightful world of unexpected correlations. From the curious musings of Levitt and Dubner in "Freakonomics" to the whimsical ruminations of Carroll in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," our journey is built upon a foundation of scholarly and fictional influences that embolden us to enthusiastically pursue the unconventional. The hearty laughs and pensive sighs we offered to these peculiar sources have undoubtedly enriched our investigation – and perhaps, added a touch of curiosity-induced wrinkles to our brows.

Much to our amusement, our results have echoed the findings of Smith et al., albeit with a touch of merriment. The subtle yet undeniable influence of names on individuals' lives finds further support in our revelation of the "Rylan effect." Even in the realm of consumer behavior, where Jones gingerly explores the manifold factors contributing to customer satisfaction, our study irreverently asserts the presence of a statistically robust connection between Rylan's popularity and JCPenney patrons' contentment. It seems that our playful pursuit of the "Rylan effect" has added a colorful twist to the otherwise sober landscape of consumer satisfaction research.

Our journey into statistical wonderment has revealed a correlation coefficient that would raise the eyebrows of even the most stoic of researchers – a 0.6380781 that seems to whisper a secret no one expected to uncover. The r-squared value, an impressive 0.4071436, tells us that Rylan's popularity holds sway over a substantial portion of the variation in JCPenney customer satisfaction, leaving us in a state of awe akin to uncovering a treasure trove of whimsy. And let us not forget the mischievous p-value of less than 0.01, beckoning us to suspend disbelief and embrace the statistical theatrics that brought the "Rylan effect" to center stage.

As we reflect on these findings, we are reminded of the enigmatic threads that bind the study of human behavior, statistics, and the unknown. Our delightfully unexpected correlation has not only reaffirmed the playful nature of scientific inquiry, but has also lent credence to the idea that the whimsy of statistics can coexist with the steadfast principles of research. The "Rylan effect," with its playful nudges and statistical fanfare, has left an indelible mark on our journey, urging us to embrace the unexpected with equal parts curiosity and lighthearted humor.


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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rylan and Customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper explores the intriguing relationship between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Drawing data from the US Social Security Administration and the American Customer Satisfaction Index, our research team undertook a playful yet insightful inquiry into this curious correlation. To our amusement, we discovered a notable correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 and p < 0.01 over the period of 1994 to 2020. Our findings suggest that there may indeed be a "Rylan effect" at play, impacting customer perceptions and shopping experiences at JCPenney. Join us in this whimsical journey as we unravel the mysterious connection between a name and retail contentment. After all, as Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!"

[[INTRDUCTION]]
In the mystical realm of statistics and survey data, where correlation coefficients reign supreme and p-values hold the scepter of significance, our research team embarked on a fantastical quest to untangle the enigmatic web woven between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. The labyrinthine corridors of academia whispered rumors of a peculiar connection, an improbable alliance between nomenclature and retail contentment.
As we ventured forth armed with SPSS and an arsenal of research articles, we found ourselves face to face with the elusive "Rylan effect." Like intrepid explorers navigating through uncharted statistical territories, we navigated the intersecting axes of birth registries and customer surveys, seeking patterns and relationships that defied conventional wisdom – or even common sense.
From the depths of the US Social Security Administration's name popularity records and the lofty peaks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we meticulously gathered our data, prepared to confront the unexpected, the bizarre, and perhaps even the downright absurd. And absurd it was, as we encountered a correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 with a p-value strutting confidently beneath the 0.01 threshold, much like a magician performing a grand illusion – though this, of course, was no mere trick of the mind.
In the spirit of scientific curiosity and the tradition of rigorous inquiry, we invite you to join us on this whimsical pursuit, where we gallivant through the realm of statistics and name trends, seeking the elusive threads that bind Rylan's popularity to the whims and fancies of JCPenney's patrons. The bard himself, William Shakespeare, once mused, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!" So let us embark on this lighthearted expedition, armed with curiosity, a pinch of whimsy, and a generous portion of statistical prowess, as we seek to unravel the ineffable mystery of the "Rylan effect."

[[RESULTS]]
Our investigation into the correlation between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney yielded some surprisingly substantial results that made us rub our eyes and check our calculators a few times. The data revealed a robust correlation coefficient of 0.6380781, indicating a moderately strong positive relationship between Rylan's popularity and JCPenney customer satisfaction. This coefficient had us doing a double take, like a magician revealing a truly mind-boggling trick – because, let's be honest, who would've thought a name could have such an impact on shopping satisfaction?
Not to be outdone, our analysis also unveiled an r-squared value of 0.4071436, suggesting that a whopping 40.71% of the variance in customer satisfaction with JCPenney could be explained by the popularity of the name "Rylan." It's as though Rylan's popularity holds the key to a significant chunk of the puzzle that determines JCPenney shoppers' level of contentment. One could say that the "Rylan effect" has the statistical power to stir the waves of consumer sentiment – a realization that left us equal parts astounded and amused.
Furthermore, our findings were accompanied by a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a level of significance that would make even the most seasoned statisticians raise an eyebrow. The evidence was clear: the connection between the name "Rylan" and JCPenney customer satisfaction was no statistical fluke. We were staring at a correlation that seemed to defy the ordinary laws of research and beckon us into a world of whimsy and wonder.
To capture the essence of this enthralling correlation, we present Figure 1, a scatterplot that captures the undeniable link between Rylan's popularity and JCPenney customer satisfaction. Prepare to be delighted – much like we were – by the sight of these two seemingly disparate variables frolicking together on a graph, showcasing their unexpected camaraderie. It's almost as if the statistical gods themselves conspired to shine a spotlight on this remarkable relationship, leaving us both amazed and gleefully perplexed.
In the end, our results point to a connection that defies the conventional wisdom of research, urging us to explore the quirky and the uncharted with a playful spirit. The "Rylan effect," it seems, has woven itself into the fabric of consumer experience, inviting us to ponder the whimsical and the unexpected in the ever-enthralling world of statistics and human behavior.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

Bolstered by our findings, it's clear that there's more to a name than meets the eye – or the cash register receipt. The "Rylan effect" has proven to be no mere statistical fluke, but rather a whimsical force that mingles with the very essence of JCPenney customer satisfaction. This correlation, with its robust coefficient and mischievous p-value, waltzes boldly against the traditional beat of research, leaving us to marvel at the unlikely dance of nomenclature and retail contentment.

As we bid adieu to our lighthearted escapade into the mystical union of Rylan's fame and shopper's bliss, let us not forget the Bard's timeless adage: "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!" Our journey may have seemed fanciful, but it has delivered insights as rich as a punnet of Rylans at a farmer's market.

But in the spirit of rigorous research and scholarly responsibility, we must declare that no further investigations are needed in this delightful domain. Our results have spoken – and with a wink and a nod, they've invited us to embrace the quirky, the wondrous, and the downright improbable in the realm of statistical inquiry. The "Rylan effect" may forever remain a gleeful enigma, nestled within the annals of academic whimsy. After all, as the old statistical saying goes, "Sometimes the correlation is in the name – and the name is Rylan!"


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 The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Retail Trends and Consumer Behavior


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 The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Society for Applied Consumer Behavior Research


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 The Rylan Effect: Exploring the Correlation Between Rylan's Popularity and JCPenney Customer Satisfaction with an abstract of This paper explores the intriguing relationship between the popularity of the first name "Rylan" and customer satisfaction with JCPenney. Drawing data from the US Social Security Administration and the American Customer Satisfaction Index, our research team undertook a playful yet insightful inquiry into this curious correlation. To our amusement, we discovered a notable correlation coefficient of 0.6380781 and p < 0.01 over the period of 1994 to 2020. Our findings suggest that there may indeed be a "Rylan effect" at play, impacting customer perceptions and shopping experiences at JCPenney. Join us in this whimsical journey as we unravel the mysterious connection between a name and retail contentment. After all, as Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? That which we call a Rylan, by any other name would shop as sweet!

ChatGPT:

Rylan popularity, JCPenney customer satisfaction, correlation, US Social Security Administration, American Customer Satisfaction Index, customer perceptions, retail satisfaction, Rylan effect, name popularity, shopping experiences, retail contentment, correlation coefficient, retail correlation, customer perceptions.

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

Customer satisfaction with JCPenney
Source: American Customer Satisfaction Index
See what else correlates with Customer satisfaction with JCPenney

Correlation r = 0.6380781 (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 = 0.4071436 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 40.7% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Customer satisfaction with JCPenney) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Popularity of the first name Rylan) over the 27 years from 1994 through 2020.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 0.00034. 0.0003424425564789944000000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme. More specifically the p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme if we had only tested one pair of variables one time.

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

Who is going to stop me? p-value reporting doesn't require me to report how many calculations I had to go through in order to find a low p-value!
On average, you will find a correaltion as strong as 0.64 in 0.034% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 2,920 random variables Which I absolutely did.
with the same 26 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 26 because we have two variables measured over a period of 27 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.

[ 0.34, 0.82 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
The confidence interval is an estimate the range of the value of the correlation coefficient, using the correlation itself as an input. The values are meant to be the low and high end of the correlation coefficient with 95% confidence.

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


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

Still, sometimes one of the variables has more years of data available than the other. This page only shows the overlapping years. To see all the years, click on "See what else correlates with..." link above.
199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Popularity of the first name Rylan (Babies born)113911261852893364115095676768391339154616012003227424043161254422252086187317751607154413311313
Customer satisfaction with JCPenney (Consumer Satisfaction)797778757575747574777678787778798082817977748279777876




Why this works

  1. Data dredging: I have 25,153 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 632,673,409 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead abused the data to see what correlations shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random.
  2. Lack of causal connection: There is probably Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
    no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied.
  3. Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A simple Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
    p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.
  4. Y-axis doesn't start at zero: I truncated the Y-axes of the graph above. I also used a line graph, which makes the visual connection stand out more than it deserves. Nothing against line graphs. They are great at telling a story when you have linear data! But visually it is deceptive because the only data is at the points on the graph, not the lines on the graph. In between each point, the data could have been doing anything. Like going for a random walk by itself!
    Mathematically what I showed is true, but it is intentionally misleading. Below is the same chart but with both Y-axes starting at zero.




Try it yourself

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([113,91,126,185,289,336,411,509,567,676,839,1339,1546,1601,2003,2274,2404,3161,2544,2225,2086,1873,1775,1607,1544,1331,1313,])
array_2 = np.array([79,77,78,75,75,75,74,75,74,77,76,78,78,77,78,79,80,82,81,79,77,74,82,79,77,78,76,])
array_1_name = "Popularity of the first name Rylan"
array_2_name = "Customer satisfaction with JCPenney"

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

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



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You 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. 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.

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Correlation ID: 1189 · Black Variable ID: 4268 · Red Variable ID: 19846
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