+- Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum (https://www.scivillage.com)
+-- Forum: Science (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-61.html)
+--- Forum: Ergonomics, Statistics & Logistics (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-78.html)
+--- Thread: Is margarine consumption causing divorce in Maine? (/thread-109.html)
Is margarine consumption causing divorce in Maine? - Magical Realist - Oct 18, 2014
Bizarre statistical correlations:
http://twentytwowords.com/funny-graphs-show-correlation-between-completely-unrelated-stats-9-pictures/
RE: Is margarine consumption causing divorce in Maine? - C C - Oct 18, 2014
Quote:[...] Harvard law student Tyler Vigen shares charts showing “spurious correlations” — high correlation between two random, unrelated statistics. [...] Divorce and Margarine; Bedsheet Deaths and Ski Profits; Norwegian Oil and Train Accidents; Uranium and Arcade Revenue; North Carolinian Marriage and Executions; Sour Cream and Motorcycle Accidents [...]
Oh, so that's the secret weapon of those hipster dufuses down at...
GRADY: "What's your secret, Toby? How do you win all these late bets on a mediocre team like the Banshees?"
TOBY: "If my pet rooster first crows before sunrise on game day, the Banshees win. When he first crows after or during sunrise on game day, they lose. Afterwards, if he crows 1-3 times total over 30 minutes, the score will be close at the end. If he crows more than 7+ times it's a blowout, or approaching that. 4-6 times means a common disparity."
GRADY: "You mean there's a causal connection between your rooster and the Banshees?"
TOBY: "Nah, don't need anything like that. These are just reliable, spurious correlations I discovered."
GRADY: "Any more tips?"
TOBY: "My uncle works for Tyson Foods and practices haruspicy of a sort. Utilizing acausal relationships associated with chicken guts and the shape of stones found in their gizzards. Here's his card."