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Spurious correlation #1,191 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is UFO sightings in Colorado and the second variable is Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake.  The chart goes from 1975 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

The gravitational pull from the UFOs was interfering with the proper functioning of the parking brakes, leading to the need for more recalls to fix the issue. Alternatively, perhaps the aliens were just really into practical jokes and kept messing with the parking brakes as they zipped around the state.

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a bustling Colorado parking lot with a whimsical twist. Colorful UFOs hover in the sky, emitting a soft glow against the dusk. Intergalactic tourists, their expressions filled with wonder, descend from the UFOS with a flurry of excitement. The tourists curiously gather around parked cars, their hands inquisitively reaching for the parking brakes, inadvertently activating flashing lights and beeping sounds. The perplexed human couple, standing near their car, furrows their brows as their car alarm blares in response to the tourists' unwitting actions. In the distance, a group of bemused engineers can be seen rushing toward a nearby factory, holding blueprints and prototypes of parking brake systems, their faces filled with urgency. The scene is filled with a sense of wonder, confusion, and futuristic whimsy. 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: Increased UFO sightings in Colorado led to an influx of intergalactic tourists, who, unfamiliar with Earth's technology, mistook parking brakes for advanced alien communication devices. Their attempts to engage with the parking brakes inadvertently triggered a series of malfunctions, prompting automotive recalls across the state.. 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: Cyberpunk Surrealism Vaporwave Futuristic Realistic
ChatGPT: Futuristic

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. Increased UFO sightings in Colorado led to an influx of intergalactic tourists, who, unfamiliar with Earth's technology, mistook parking brakes for advanced alien communication devices. Their attempts to engage with the parking brakes inadvertently triggered a series of malfunctions, prompting automotive recalls across the state.
ChatGPT: In a busy Colorado parking lot, colorful UFOs hover in the sky as curious intergalactic tourists exit their spacecraft. They gather around parked cars, pressing the parking brakes and eagerly observing the flashing lights and beeping sounds. Meanwhile, a confused human couple frowns as their car alarm blares after the tourists' unwitting activation of the parking brake. In the distance, a group of bemused engineers rush to a nearby factory, frantically examining blueprints and prototypes of parking brake systems.

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: [ Futuristic ] and depicting this scene: In a busy Colorado parking lot, colorful UFOs hover in the sky as curious intergalactic tourists exit their spacecraft. They gather around parked cars, pressing the parking brakes and eagerly observing the flashing lights and beeping sounds. Meanwhile, a confused human couple frowns as their car alarm blares after the tourists' unwitting activation of the parking brake. In the distance, a group of bemused engineers rush to a nearby factory, frantically examining blueprints and prototypes of parking brake systems. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a bustling Colorado parking lot with a whimsical twist. Colorful UFOs hover in the sky, emitting a soft glow against the dusk. Intergalactic tourists, their expressions filled with wonder, descend from the UFOS with a flurry of excitement. The tourists curiously gather around parked cars, their hands inquisitively reaching for the parking brakes, inadvertently activating flashing lights and beeping sounds. The perplexed human couple, standing near their car, furrows their brows as their car alarm blares in response to the tourists' unwitting actions. In the distance, a group of bemused engineers can be seen rushing toward a nearby factory, holding blueprints and prototypes of parking brake systems, their faces filled with urgency. The scene is filled with a sense of wonder, confusion, and futuristic whimsy.

*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 UFO sightings in Colorado caused Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake to increase.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications

The Journal of Anomalous Aeronautics

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 witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.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 UFO sightings in Colorado and Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Make the title an alliteration.

Your research team used data from National UFO Reporting Center and US DOT to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and p < 0.01 for 1975 to 2021.

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]]
Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper investigates the quirky relationship between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. Leveraging data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation, a thorough analysis was conducted spanning the years 1975 to 2021. A striking correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and a p-value less than 0.01 were obtained, lending credence to the hypothesis that otherworldly phenomena might be influencing earthly engineering. This unexpected connection could shed light on the unexplored intergalactic forces at play in our everyday lives. Given the long-standing intrigue surrounding UFOs and the eternal struggle of parking brake malfunctions, this research adds a touch of levity to the ever-serious world of statistical analysis and prompts us to consider the possibility that cosmic visitors may have a penchant for prankish parking antics.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.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 UFO sightings in Colorado and Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper investigates the quirky relationship between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. Leveraging data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation, a thorough analysis was conducted spanning the years 1975 to 2021. A striking correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and a p-value less than 0.01 were obtained, lending credence to the hypothesis that otherworldly phenomena might be influencing earthly engineering. This unexpected connection could shed light on the unexplored intergalactic forces at play in our everyday lives. Given the long-standing intrigue surrounding UFOs and the eternal struggle of parking brake malfunctions, this research adds a touch of levity to the ever-serious world of statistical analysis and prompts us to consider the possibility that cosmic visitors may have a penchant for prankish parking antics.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

The enthralling enigma of UFO sightings has long captivated human curiosity, prompting countless gazes skyward in search of cosmic conundrums. Similarly, the vexing vagaries of automotive malfunctions, particularly those pertaining to parking brake irregularities, have bedeviled motorists with their confounding complexity. The intersection of these two disparate realms may seem improbable at first glance, akin to a spacecraft landing in a car park, yet our investigation delves deep into this enigmatic confluence.

While the study of UFOs often resides at the fringes of scientific inquiry, the allure of the unexplained and the inexplicable has persisted throughout the annals of human history. Likewise, the realm of automotive engineering, with its myriad of mechanical intricacies, presents a landscape rife with potential pitfalls and peculiar puzzles. It is within this unexpected overlap of otherworldly sightings and earthly automotive misfortunes that we uncover a nexus of statistical significance, where the whims of the celestial may exert influence on the terrestrial.

In the following discourse, we embark on an exploratory expedition through the realms of cosmic sightings and terrestrial vehicular tribulations, aiming to unravel the peculiar correlation between UFO appearances in the skies of Colorado and instances of automotive recalls related to the fickle functioning of parking brakes. By invoking the tools of statistical analysis, we endeavor to shed light on this peculiar pairing, peering beyond the mundane and into the realms of the mysterious and the mirthful. As we navigate this curious confluence, we invite the reader to join us on a lighthearted journey that straddles the border between the plausible and the preposterous, and perhaps enjoy a chuckle or two along the way.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics 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 UFO sightings in Colorado and Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

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

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper investigates the quirky relationship between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. Leveraging data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation, a thorough analysis was conducted spanning the years 1975 to 2021. A striking correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and a p-value less than 0.01 were obtained, lending credence to the hypothesis that otherworldly phenomena might be influencing earthly engineering. This unexpected connection could shed light on the unexplored intergalactic forces at play in our everyday lives. Given the long-standing intrigue surrounding UFOs and the eternal struggle of parking brake malfunctions, this research adds a touch of levity to the ever-serious world of statistical analysis and prompts us to consider the possibility that cosmic visitors may have a penchant for prankish parking antics.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The enthralling enigma of UFO sightings has long captivated human curiosity, prompting countless gazes skyward in search of cosmic conundrums. Similarly, the vexing vagaries of automotive malfunctions, particularly those pertaining to parking brake irregularities, have bedeviled motorists with their confounding complexity. The intersection of these two disparate realms may seem improbable at first glance, akin to a spacecraft landing in a car park, yet our investigation delves deep into this enigmatic confluence.
While the study of UFOs often resides at the fringes of scientific inquiry, the allure of the unexplained and the inexplicable has persisted throughout the annals of human history. Likewise, the realm of automotive engineering, with its myriad of mechanical intricacies, presents a landscape rife with potential pitfalls and peculiar puzzles. It is within this unexpected overlap of otherworldly sightings and earthly automotive misfortunes that we uncover a nexus of statistical significance, where the whims of the celestial may exert influence on the terrestrial.
In the following discourse, we embark on an exploratory expedition through the realms of cosmic sightings and terrestrial vehicular tribulations, aiming to unravel the peculiar correlation between UFO appearances in the skies of Colorado and instances of automotive recalls related to the fickle functioning of parking brakes. By invoking the tools of statistical analysis, we endeavor to shed light on this peculiar pairing, peering beyond the mundane and into the realms of the mysterious and the mirthful. As we navigate this curious confluence, we invite the reader to join us on a lighthearted journey that straddles the border between the plausible and the preposterous, and perhaps enjoy a chuckle or two along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

The present investigation delves into a diverse array of literature, ranging from serious academic studies to the realms of fiction and popular culture, in order to elucidate the unexpected correlation between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for issues related to the parking brake. This review encompasses a multidisciplinary approach to provide a comprehensive understanding of this enigmatic connection.

Underpinning the empirical investigation, Smith et al. (2017) emphasized the necessity of considering unusual external influences on terrestrial phenomena in their study "Extraterrestrial Encounters: Implications for Earthly Affairs." Their thought-provoking analysis laid the groundwork for our own inquiry, urging researchers to not dismiss the potential impact of celestial visitors on everyday human activities, including the operation of mechanical contrivances such as parking brakes. Similarly, Doe and Jones (2019) observed a correlation between anomalous celestial events and anomalies in human-engineered systems in "Cosmic Quirks and Their Earthly Equivalents," heralding an era of holistic investigation across disparate domains.

Transitioning from the scholarly works to literary sources, "The UFO Phenomenon: Fact, Fantasy, and Disinformation" by Keyhoe (1973) provides an in-depth exploration of the mysteries of unidentified flying objects, offering tantalizing glimpses into the potential intersections between UFO sightings and earthly anomalies. Likewise, Sagan's "Contact" (1985) presents a gripping narrative that intertwines the realms of science and speculative fiction, offering compelling insights into the potential repercussions of interstellar interactions on terrestrial affairs.

Moving into the realm of popular culture, the cartoon series "The Jetsons" and the children's show "My Favorite Martian" both toy with the concept of alien visitors and their interactions with human technology, setting the stage for imaginative contemplation of celestial influences on everyday life. While seemingly lighthearted and whimsical in nature, these cultural touchstones invite us to consider the possibility of otherworldly forces subtly shaping human inventions and their occasional malfunctions.

Through this diverse exploration of literature, from academic treatises to fictional narratives and cultural expressions, we are primed to embark on a lighthearted yet critically astute journey through the curious correlation between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake discrepancies. The amalgamation of scholarly, literary, and cultural perspectives serves as a springboard for our investigation, infusing our research endeavor with both scholarly rigor and a dash of whimsy.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics 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 UFO sightings in Colorado and Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from National UFO Reporting Center and US DOT . You used data from 1975 to 2021

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]]
Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper investigates the quirky relationship between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. Leveraging data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation, a thorough analysis was conducted spanning the years 1975 to 2021. A striking correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and a p-value less than 0.01 were obtained, lending credence to the hypothesis that otherworldly phenomena might be influencing earthly engineering. This unexpected connection could shed light on the unexplored intergalactic forces at play in our everyday lives. Given the long-standing intrigue surrounding UFOs and the eternal struggle of parking brake malfunctions, this research adds a touch of levity to the ever-serious world of statistical analysis and prompts us to consider the possibility that cosmic visitors may have a penchant for prankish parking antics.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The enthralling enigma of UFO sightings has long captivated human curiosity, prompting countless gazes skyward in search of cosmic conundrums. Similarly, the vexing vagaries of automotive malfunctions, particularly those pertaining to parking brake irregularities, have bedeviled motorists with their confounding complexity. The intersection of these two disparate realms may seem improbable at first glance, akin to a spacecraft landing in a car park, yet our investigation delves deep into this enigmatic confluence.
While the study of UFOs often resides at the fringes of scientific inquiry, the allure of the unexplained and the inexplicable has persisted throughout the annals of human history. Likewise, the realm of automotive engineering, with its myriad of mechanical intricacies, presents a landscape rife with potential pitfalls and peculiar puzzles. It is within this unexpected overlap of otherworldly sightings and earthly automotive misfortunes that we uncover a nexus of statistical significance, where the whims of the celestial may exert influence on the terrestrial.
In the following discourse, we embark on an exploratory expedition through the realms of cosmic sightings and terrestrial vehicular tribulations, aiming to unravel the peculiar correlation between UFO appearances in the skies of Colorado and instances of automotive recalls related to the fickle functioning of parking brakes. By invoking the tools of statistical analysis, we endeavor to shed light on this peculiar pairing, peering beyond the mundane and into the realms of the mysterious and the mirthful. As we navigate this curious confluence, we invite the reader to join us on a lighthearted journey that straddles the border between the plausible and the preposterous, and perhaps enjoy a chuckle or two along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To begin our intrepid investigation into the captivating correlation between UFO sightings and automotive recalls, we embarked on a data collection escapade that would make even the most curious extraterrestrial envious. Leveraging the vast expanse of the internet, we scoured the wilderness of digital archives, paying particular attention to the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation, with a nod to other available sources for cross-validation and merriment. Our data delving mission spanned the astronomical timeline from 1975 to 2021, encompassing an era marked by disco grooves, Rubik’s Cube mania, and the peculiar fusion of parachute pants and power ballads.

With an approach that balanced the rigors of statistical analysis with a dash of whimsical wonder, we harnessed the power of quantitative methodologies to unearth the hidden connections between celestial visitations and terrestrial vehicular vexations. Our quixotic quest involved the extraction of UFO sighting data from the National UFO Reporting Center’s archives, which cataloged a plethora of puzzling encounters that would give even the bravest statistician pause. Complementing this cosmic foray, we mined the automotive recall records from the auspices of the US Department of Transportation, unearthing the tumultuous tales of parking brake malfunctions that could rival the most thrilling science fiction dramas.

The intertwining of these disparate datasets required a delicate dance of data wrangling and harmonization, akin to orchestrating a celestial ballroom waltz between alien sightings and earthly engineering anomalies. Employing statistical software and a dollop of algorithmic alchemy, we deftly aligned the temporal and geographical dimensions of the UFO sightings with the chronicles of automotive recalls, teasing out the tantalizing threads that hinted at a cosmic connection with a penchant for parking pranks.

Our analytical arsenal included the venerable tools of correlation analysis, allowing us to measure the strength and direction of the association between the temporal patterns of UFO sightings in Colorado and the emergence of parking brake-related recall campaigns. Armed with p-values, confidence intervals, and a healthy dose of skepticism, we embarked on a mathematical odyssey to unveil the statistical concordance that lay hidden amidst the cosmic curiosities and earthly automotive anomalies.

In summary, our methodological escapade encompassed a spirited synthesis of data scavenging, statistical subterfuge, and a soupçon of scientific merriment. With this captivating confluence of statistical scrutiny and speculative quirkiness, we endeavored to illuminate the interconnectedness of cosmic capers and terrestrial technical tribulations, inviting the reader on a scholarly sojourn that seamlessly melds the academically rigorous with a touch of whimsy.



Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics 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 UFO sightings in Colorado and Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from National UFO Reporting Center and US DOT .

For the time period 1975 to 2021, you found a correlation 0.6938817, r-squared of 0.4814718, 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]]
Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper investigates the quirky relationship between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. Leveraging data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation, a thorough analysis was conducted spanning the years 1975 to 2021. A striking correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and a p-value less than 0.01 were obtained, lending credence to the hypothesis that otherworldly phenomena might be influencing earthly engineering. This unexpected connection could shed light on the unexplored intergalactic forces at play in our everyday lives. Given the long-standing intrigue surrounding UFOs and the eternal struggle of parking brake malfunctions, this research adds a touch of levity to the ever-serious world of statistical analysis and prompts us to consider the possibility that cosmic visitors may have a penchant for prankish parking antics.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
The enthralling enigma of UFO sightings has long captivated human curiosity, prompting countless gazes skyward in search of cosmic conundrums. Similarly, the vexing vagaries of automotive malfunctions, particularly those pertaining to parking brake irregularities, have bedeviled motorists with their confounding complexity. The intersection of these two disparate realms may seem improbable at first glance, akin to a spacecraft landing in a car park, yet our investigation delves deep into this enigmatic confluence.
While the study of UFOs often resides at the fringes of scientific inquiry, the allure of the unexplained and the inexplicable has persisted throughout the annals of human history. Likewise, the realm of automotive engineering, with its myriad of mechanical intricacies, presents a landscape rife with potential pitfalls and peculiar puzzles. It is within this unexpected overlap of otherworldly sightings and earthly automotive misfortunes that we uncover a nexus of statistical significance, where the whims of the celestial may exert influence on the terrestrial.
In the following discourse, we embark on an exploratory expedition through the realms of cosmic sightings and terrestrial vehicular tribulations, aiming to unravel the peculiar correlation between UFO appearances in the skies of Colorado and instances of automotive recalls related to the fickle functioning of parking brakes. By invoking the tools of statistical analysis, we endeavor to shed light on this peculiar pairing, peering beyond the mundane and into the realms of the mysterious and the mirthful. As we navigate this curious confluence, we invite the reader to join us on a lighthearted journey that straddles the border between the plausible and the preposterous, and perhaps enjoy a chuckle or two along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

A thorough analysis of the data obtained from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. This correlation indicates a moderately strong positive relationship between the frequency of otherworldly visits and the incidence of earthly automotive woes. The coefficient of determination (r-squared) of 0.4814718 suggests that approximately 48.15% of the variance in parking brake recalls can be explained by the corresponding variance in UFO sightings. The obtained p-value of less than 0.01 signifies strong evidence against the null hypothesis and provides compelling support for the existence of a genuine association between these ostensibly unrelated phenomena.

Figure 1 displays a scatterplot illustrating the robust correlation between UFO sightings and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. The plot boldly showcases the intriguing pattern of association, providing visual confirmation of the statistical findings. One can't help but marvel at how these seemingly disconnected data points align with such unexpected harmony, as if the cosmic and the automotive realms have found common ground, albeit in the form of a statistical graph.

These findings, at first blush, may engender as much skepticism as a UFO sighting itself, but they beckon us to venture beyond the conventional bounds of scientific inquiry. The implications of this research extend beyond the statistical realm, beckoning us to contemplate the cosmic forces that might be at play in our daily lives. The intersection of UFO sightings and parking brake recalls beckons us to consider the possibility that perhaps extraterrestrial beings are not only traversing the heavens but also making their mischievous mark on our earthly contraptions. This unexpected connection not only prompts us to reevaluate our preconceptions but also infuses a quirky sense of wonder into the otherwise serious pursuits of statistical analysis and automotive engineering.

In conclusion, these findings offer a whimsical window into the potential interplay between the celestial and the terrestrial, challenging us to entertain the possibility of extraterrestrial influences on our terrestrial travails. This work highlights the need to keep an open mind and a watchful eye on the unexpected correlations that may emerge from the rich tapestry of data, and to find delight in the delightful, if somewhat befuddling, mysteries that permeate our statistical investigations.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics 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 UFO sightings in Colorado and Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

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

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

[[TITLE]]
Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper investigates the quirky relationship between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. Leveraging data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation, a thorough analysis was conducted spanning the years 1975 to 2021. A striking correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and a p-value less than 0.01 were obtained, lending credence to the hypothesis that otherworldly phenomena might be influencing earthly engineering. This unexpected connection could shed light on the unexplored intergalactic forces at play in our everyday lives. Given the long-standing intrigue surrounding UFOs and the eternal struggle of parking brake malfunctions, this research adds a touch of levity to the ever-serious world of statistical analysis and prompts us to consider the possibility that cosmic visitors may have a penchant for prankish parking antics.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
The present investigation delves into a diverse array of literature, ranging from serious academic studies to the realms of fiction and popular culture, in order to elucidate the unexpected correlation between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for issues related to the parking brake. This review encompasses a multidisciplinary approach to provide a comprehensive understanding of this enigmatic connection.
Underpinning the empirical investigation, Smith et al. (2017) emphasized the necessity of considering unusual external influences on terrestrial phenomena in their study "Extraterrestrial Encounters: Implications for Earthly Affairs." Their thought-provoking analysis laid the groundwork for our own inquiry, urging researchers to not dismiss the potential impact of celestial visitors on everyday human activities, including the operation of mechanical contrivances such as parking brakes. Similarly, Doe and Jones (2019) observed a correlation between anomalous celestial events and anomalies in human-engineered systems in "Cosmic Quirks and Their Earthly Equivalents," heralding an era of holistic investigation across disparate domains.
Transitioning from the scholarly works to literary sources, "The UFO Phenomenon: Fact, Fantasy, and Disinformation" by Keyhoe (1973) provides an in-depth exploration of the mysteries of unidentified flying objects, offering tantalizing glimpses into the potential intersections between UFO sightings and earthly anomalies. Likewise, Sagan's "Contact" (1985) presents a gripping narrative that intertwines the realms of science and speculative fiction, offering compelling insights into the potential repercussions of interstellar interactions on terrestrial affairs.
Moving into the realm of popular culture, the cartoon series "The Jetsons" and the children's show "My Favorite Martian" both toy with the concept of alien visitors and their interactions with human technology, setting the stage for imaginative contemplation of celestial influences on everyday life. While seemingly lighthearted and whimsical in nature, these cultural touchstones invite us to consider the possibility of otherworldly forces subtly shaping human inventions and their occasional malfunctions.
Through this diverse exploration of literature, from academic treatises to fictional narratives and cultural expressions, we are primed to embark on a lighthearted yet critically astute journey through the curious correlation between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake discrepancies. The amalgamation of scholarly, literary, and cultural perspectives serves as a springboard for our investigation, infusing our research endeavor with both scholarly rigor and a dash of whimsy.

[[RESULTS]]
A thorough analysis of the data obtained from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. This correlation indicates a moderately strong positive relationship between the frequency of otherworldly visits and the incidence of earthly automotive woes. The coefficient of determination (r-squared) of 0.4814718 suggests that approximately 48.15% of the variance in parking brake recalls can be explained by the corresponding variance in UFO sightings. The obtained p-value of less than 0.01 signifies strong evidence against the null hypothesis and provides compelling support for the existence of a genuine association between these ostensibly unrelated phenomena.
Figure 1 displays a scatterplot illustrating the robust correlation between UFO sightings and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. The plot boldly showcases the intriguing pattern of association, providing visual confirmation of the statistical findings. One can't help but marvel at how these seemingly disconnected data points align with such unexpected harmony, as if the cosmic and the automotive realms have found common ground, albeit in the form of a statistical graph.
These findings, at first blush, may engender as much skepticism as a UFO sighting itself, but they beckon us to venture beyond the conventional bounds of scientific inquiry. The implications of this research extend beyond the statistical realm, beckoning us to contemplate the cosmic forces that might be at play in our daily lives. The intersection of UFO sightings and parking brake recalls beckons us to consider the possibility that perhaps extraterrestrial beings are not only traversing the heavens but also making their mischievous mark on our earthly contraptions. This unexpected connection not only prompts us to reevaluate our preconceptions but also infuses a quirky sense of wonder into the otherwise serious pursuits of statistical analysis and automotive engineering.
In conclusion, these findings offer a whimsical window into the potential interplay between the celestial and the terrestrial, challenging us to entertain the possibility of extraterrestrial influences on our terrestrial travails. This work highlights the need to keep an open mind and a watchful eye on the unexpected correlations that may emerge from the rich tapestry of data, and to find delight in the delightful, if somewhat befuddling, mysteries that permeate our statistical investigations.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of our investigation reveal an intriguing correlation between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues, lending credence to the preceding literature that hinted at the potential intersection of celestial events and earthly mechanical maladies. As we delve into the implications of our findings, it becomes evident that this unexpected connection sheds light on the unexplored intergalactic forces at play in shaping our tangible terrestrial experiences.

The literature review, though varied in its sources, provided a rich backdrop for our investigation. Our results corroborate the notions proposed by Smith et al. (2017) and Doe and Jones (2019), who advocated for an open-minded exploration of the potential impact of celestial visitors on human-engineered systems. While their studies were initially met with a raised eyebrow or two, the statistically significant correlation we unearthed underscores the need for a comprehensive examination of the cosmic and automotive realms. It appears that cosmic engineering and earthly engineering may, indeed, be entangled in a delicate dance, resulting in a statistical waltz that captivates the mind and challenges traditional scientific paradigms. It is as if the universe is sending us a message, wrapped in statistical rigor and extraterrestrial intrigue.

The correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and the compellingly low p-value validate the unexpected connection between UFO sightings and parking brake recalls, prompting us to consider the possibility that celestial forces are influencing our earthly engineering endeavors. As we consider the potential implications of this connection, it becomes evident that statistical inquiry does not occur in a vacuum; rather, it invites us to drift into the cosmic expanse of imaginative contemplation. The statistical graph depicting the association between UFO sightings and parking brake recalls beckons us to engage not only with the data but with the whimsical wonders that lie at the intersection of statistical analysis and cosmic curiosity.

The distinct harmony between these seemingly disparate phenomena entails a cosmic comic opera, inviting us to appreciate the celestial jesters who may be playing practical pranks on our earthly contrivances. It seems that the cosmos has a flair for the absurd, subtly weaving its extraterrestrial mischievousness into our automotive recalls. This is a gentle nudge for us, as researchers, to embrace the unexpected, to look beyond the mundane, and to find joy in the delightful, if somewhat confounding, mysteries that pervade our statistical explorations.

In essence, our findings nudge us to keep our eyes peeled for the quirky and unusual, and to revel in the eccentricities that enliven our scientific pursuits. This curious correlation between UFO sightings in Colorado and parking brake recalls offers a playful reprieve in the otherwise stoic landscape of statistical investigations, prodding us to entertain the prospect of cosmic influences on our earthly endeavors. As we consider the interplay between the celestial and the terrestrial, we are reminded that statistical inquiry, much like the cosmos itself, holds a delightful trove of enigmatic wonders waiting to be uncovered.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics 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 UFO sightings in Colorado and Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper investigates the quirky relationship between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. Leveraging data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation, a thorough analysis was conducted spanning the years 1975 to 2021. A striking correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and a p-value less than 0.01 were obtained, lending credence to the hypothesis that otherworldly phenomena might be influencing earthly engineering. This unexpected connection could shed light on the unexplored intergalactic forces at play in our everyday lives. Given the long-standing intrigue surrounding UFOs and the eternal struggle of parking brake malfunctions, this research adds a touch of levity to the ever-serious world of statistical analysis and prompts us to consider the possibility that cosmic visitors may have a penchant for prankish parking antics.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The enthralling enigma of UFO sightings has long captivated human curiosity, prompting countless gazes skyward in search of cosmic conundrums. Similarly, the vexing vagaries of automotive malfunctions, particularly those pertaining to parking brake irregularities, have bedeviled motorists with their confounding complexity. The intersection of these two disparate realms may seem improbable at first glance, akin to a spacecraft landing in a car park, yet our investigation delves deep into this enigmatic confluence.
While the study of UFOs often resides at the fringes of scientific inquiry, the allure of the unexplained and the inexplicable has persisted throughout the annals of human history. Likewise, the realm of automotive engineering, with its myriad of mechanical intricacies, presents a landscape rife with potential pitfalls and peculiar puzzles. It is within this unexpected overlap of otherworldly sightings and earthly automotive misfortunes that we uncover a nexus of statistical significance, where the whims of the celestial may exert influence on the terrestrial.
In the following discourse, we embark on an exploratory expedition through the realms of cosmic sightings and terrestrial vehicular tribulations, aiming to unravel the peculiar correlation between UFO appearances in the skies of Colorado and instances of automotive recalls related to the fickle functioning of parking brakes. By invoking the tools of statistical analysis, we endeavor to shed light on this peculiar pairing, peering beyond the mundane and into the realms of the mysterious and the mirthful. As we navigate this curious confluence, we invite the reader to join us on a lighthearted journey that straddles the border between the plausible and the preposterous, and perhaps enjoy a chuckle or two along the way.

[[RESULTS]]
A thorough analysis of the data obtained from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. This correlation indicates a moderately strong positive relationship between the frequency of otherworldly visits and the incidence of earthly automotive woes. The coefficient of determination (r-squared) of 0.4814718 suggests that approximately 48.15% of the variance in parking brake recalls can be explained by the corresponding variance in UFO sightings. The obtained p-value of less than 0.01 signifies strong evidence against the null hypothesis and provides compelling support for the existence of a genuine association between these ostensibly unrelated phenomena.
Figure 1 displays a scatterplot illustrating the robust correlation between UFO sightings and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. The plot boldly showcases the intriguing pattern of association, providing visual confirmation of the statistical findings. One can't help but marvel at how these seemingly disconnected data points align with such unexpected harmony, as if the cosmic and the automotive realms have found common ground, albeit in the form of a statistical graph.
These findings, at first blush, may engender as much skepticism as a UFO sighting itself, but they beckon us to venture beyond the conventional bounds of scientific inquiry. The implications of this research extend beyond the statistical realm, beckoning us to contemplate the cosmic forces that might be at play in our daily lives. The intersection of UFO sightings and parking brake recalls beckons us to consider the possibility that perhaps extraterrestrial beings are not only traversing the heavens but also making their mischievous mark on our earthly contraptions. This unexpected connection not only prompts us to reevaluate our preconceptions but also infuses a quirky sense of wonder into the otherwise serious pursuits of statistical analysis and automotive engineering.
In conclusion, these findings offer a whimsical window into the potential interplay between the celestial and the terrestrial, challenging us to entertain the possibility of extraterrestrial influences on our terrestrial travails. This work highlights the need to keep an open mind and a watchful eye on the unexpected correlations that may emerge from the rich tapestry of data, and to find delight in the delightful, if somewhat befuddling, mysteries that permeate our statistical investigations.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In light of the statistical analysis conducted in this research, it is clear that the connection between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues presents a fascinating conundrum. The decidedly unexpected correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and the persuasive p-value below 0.01 point to a relationship that is far from being a mere statistical fluke. The robustness of this correlation, represented vividly in the scatterplot, challenges us to consider the cosmic forces at play in our earthly travails with a lighthearted curiosity.

The implications of our findings reach beyond the realm of statistical analysis, beckoning us to ponder the possibility that celestial visitors may be covertly impacting our terrestrial contrivances. This intersection between the cosmic and the automotive calls for a light-hearted, open-minded approach, as we navigate the enigmatic nexus where UFOs and parking brake malfunctions converge.

With a lighthearted chuckle and a whimsical wink to the universe, we conclude that no further research is needed in this area. This work has certainly unearthed a statistical oddity that adds a touch of levity to the otherwise serious discipline of quantitative analysis. Let us embrace the delightful mysteries that abound in statistical investigations, and perhaps keep an eye on the sky for any mischievous cosmic beings with a penchant for fiddling with earthly parking brakes.


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 Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Anomalous Aeronautics


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 Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Galactic Anomaly Research Institute


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide potential search keywords separated by commas. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide potential search keywords for a paper titled Curious Correlation: Connecting Colorado UFO Sightings and Clumsy Car Complications with an abstract of This paper investigates the quirky relationship between UFO sightings in Colorado and automotive recalls for parking brake issues. Leveraging data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Department of Transportation, a thorough analysis was conducted spanning the years 1975 to 2021. A striking correlation coefficient of 0.6938817 and a p-value less than 0.01 were obtained, lending credence to the hypothesis that otherworldly phenomena might be influencing earthly engineering. This unexpected connection could shed light on the unexplored intergalactic forces at play in our everyday lives. Given the long-standing intrigue surrounding UFOs and the eternal struggle of parking brake malfunctions, this research adds a touch of levity to the ever-serious world of statistical analysis and prompts us to consider the possibility that cosmic visitors may have a penchant for prankish parking antics.

ChatGPT:

Colorado, UFO sightings, automotive recalls, parking brake issues, National UFO Reporting Center, US Department of Transportation, correlation coefficient, statistical analysis, intergalactic forces, cosmic visitors

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



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Data details

UFO sightings in Colorado
Detailed data title: UFO sightings reported in Colorado
Source: National UFO Reporting Center
See what else correlates with UFO sightings in Colorado

Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake
Source: US DOT
See what else correlates with Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake

Correlation r = 0.6938817 (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 = 0.4814718 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 48.1% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., UFO sightings in Colorado) over the 47 years from 1975 through 2021.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 6.4E-8. 0.0000000637610785748584000000
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 0.69 in 6.4E-6% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 15,683,549 random variables You don't actually need 15 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 46 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 46 because we have two variables measured over a period of 47 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.

[ 0.51, 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.
19751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
UFO sightings in Colorado (UFO sightings)477334632024547464841414196164479468819676908695886811411214119415619815710710817368
Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake (Recalls)1216451220850222814656146655261312158521717121628965107




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. Outlandish outliers: There are "outliers" in this data. In concept, "outlier" just means "way different than the rest of your dataset." When calculating a correlation like this, they are particularly impactful because a single outlier can substantially increase your correlation.

    For the purposes of this project, I counted a point as an outlier if it the residual was two standard deviations from the mean.

    (This bullet point only shows up in the details page on charts that do, in fact, have outliers.)
    They stand out on the scatterplot above: notice the dots that are far away from any other dots. I intentionally mishandeled outliers, which makes the correlation look extra strong.




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([4,7,7,3,3,4,6,3,2,0,2,4,5,4,7,4,6,4,8,4,14,14,19,61,64,47,94,68,81,96,76,90,86,95,88,68,114,112,141,194,156,198,157,107,108,173,68,])
array_2 = np.array([1,2,1,6,4,5,1,2,2,0,8,5,0,2,2,2,8,1,4,6,5,6,1,4,6,6,5,5,2,6,13,12,15,8,5,2,1,7,17,12,16,28,9,6,5,10,7,])
array_1_name = "UFO sightings in Colorado"
array_2_name = "Automotive recalls for issues with the Parking Brake"

# 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: 1191 · Black Variable ID: 1160 · Red Variable ID: 1113
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