GAM (Generalized Additive Models)
GAM (Generalized Additive Models) is one of the statistical analyses automatically performed in MerQur. This page provides an illustrative demonstration, using a sample data set from the field of Sport Sciences, of how the analysis is applied, how the MerQur output appears, and how it is reported in APA 7 format.
🎯 What is it for?
GAM (Generalized Additive Models) automatically performs all required assumption checks (normality, homogeneity of variance, etc.) for the relevant data type in the background and presents the results with a clear table + chart. Automatic interpretation to the APA 7 standard, effect sizes such as Cohen’s d/η²/R², and 95% confidence intervals are reported.
📌 When is it used?
- In the statistical analysis of measurements in the field of Sport Sciences
- To generate APA 7-compliant result tables for academic publication
- In hypothesis testing and decision-making processes
- After selecting an appropriate method in undergraduate / master’s / doctoral theses
📐 Assumptions
- Appropriate scale — Variables must be at the scale level required by the analysis (nominal/ordinal/interval/ratio)
- Independent observations — Observations must come from mutually independent individuals
- Adequate sample — The minimum n requirement for the analysis must be met
- Outlier check — Outliers must be detected and evaluated
If the assumptions are violated, MerQur automatically steers you toward a non-parametric or robust alternative.
🛠 How to do it in MerQur
Load the data. Select the sample file from the File → Open menu. MerQur automatically detects the column types.
Select the analysis. From the left sidebar, select GAM (Generalized Additive Models).
Panel assignments (form fields in the program):
- Target Column:
performans - predictors:
['sporcu_id', 'yas'] - family:
gaussian - n_splines:
10 - lam:
0.6
Optional settings. Effect size ✓ · 95% confidence interval ✓ · Assumption checks (automatic).
Press the ▶ Run button. Results are generated automatically as tables + charts.
📄 Export to Word. A report in APA 7 format with italic statistical symbols.
📊 Sample Dataset — Spor Bilimleri
ℹ Note: The MerQur output and interpretation tables on this page are illustrative and intended to help understand the analysis. The numerical results for your own data may differ; this page does not have to match the YouTube video walkthrough exactly.
🎬 Example File Used in the Video
The YouTube video tutorial for this page was recorded using the following sample file for the Sports Sciences field:
MerQur_Hoca_Tanitim/Spor_Bilimleri/83_gam_yas_perf.xlsx
Data Preview (First 5 Rows)
| sporcu_id | yas | performans |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | 18.00 | 100.00 |
| 2.00 | 37.00 | 94.80 |
| 3.00 | 21.00 | 100.00 |
| 4.00 | 36.00 | 89.60 |
| 5.00 | 26.00 | 99.30 |
n = 200 · Sütunlar: sporcu_id, yas, performans
MerQur Output (Illustrative)
MerQur Interpretation (Plain Language)
GAM (Generalized Additive Models) revealed a statistically significant finding among the relevant variables (p < .001). Detailed results and visuals are automatically generated in MerQur’s output panel.
APA 7 Interpretation (Academic Format · Illustrative)
yas (p < .001). The effect size was at a medium-to-large level, indicating that the findings carry practical significance. MerQur’s APA 7 Word output can be used for a detailed report.⚠ Common Mistakes
- Specifying the data type incorrectly (e.g., loading a categorical variable as numeric)
- Skipping the assumption checks and looking directly at the p-value
- Not reporting the effect size — APA 7 requires both p and the effect size
- Not applying a Type I error correction (Bonferroni/Tukey) in multiple comparisons
- Not switching to a non-parametric alternative when n is insufficient
📹 Video Walkthrough
You can watch the video below for an end-to-end application of this analysis using the Sports Sciences file.
🎓 Educational Sciences · 🧪 Natural Sciences and Mathematics · 🏛 Architecture, Planning and Design · ⚙ Engineering · 🏥 Health Sciences · 📊 Social, Humanities and Administrative Sciences · 🌾 Agriculture, Forestry and Aquaculture
📚 If You Used This Analysis, Cite MerQur
If you performed this analysis in a scientific study using MerQur, please use the following citation (APA 7) in accordance with the academic citation requirement:
Örücü, Ö. K. (2026). MerQur: An Integrated Academic Data Analysis and Reporting Platform [Computer Software] (Version 1.0.0). https://doi.org/10.53463/merqur.2026001
For BibTeX, RIS, EndNote and the English equivalent: all citation formats →
- American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
- Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics (5th ed.). Sage.
- Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum.