Sample based on two columns

[Inactive User]

TL;DR: I need a 5% sample of a population for each distinct combination of 2 sets of categories.

Hi everyone,

Let's say I have a data set where I collect the rating responses for different desserts in different cities (where I have my dessert superstores!). Now I want to contact a small sample of customers again for a longer survey to figure out how to refine my desserts and be more successful.

I have a range of 6 desserts that I sell in 3 different cities, with thousands of ratings per dessert&city combination.

Not all desserts have the same amount of ratings; however, I want to sample 5% of each dessert&city combination. So, if I have "Los Angeles&Apple Pie" 1000 times, I want to get a random 50 ratings; if I have "Chicago&Cherry Blossom Mochi" only 200 times, I want to get 10 random ratings. 🙂

Example data showing all 6 dessert types:

Location	Dessert	Rating
Los Angeles	Apple Pie	7.2
Los Angeles	Marzipan Bar	3.3
Los Angeles	Chocolate Pudding	7.4
Los Angeles	Macarons	9.8
Los Angeles	Pistachio Ice Cream	6.1
Los Angeles	Cherry Blossom Mochi	9.9
New York City	Apple Pie	5.7
New York City	Marzipan Bar	8.3
New York City	Chocolate Pudding	9.8
New York City	Macarons	9.1
New York City	Pistachio Ice Cream	7.5
New York City	Cherry Blossom Mochi	5.0
Chicago	Apple Pie	6.6
Chicago	Marzipan Bar	8.0
Chicago	Chocolate Pudding	6.8
Chicago	Macarons	3.4
Chicago	Pistachio Ice Cream	7.1
Chicago	Cherry Blossom Mochi	8.7

I'm grateful for any suggestions!

Longer example data attached. 😃

[AngelosPachis · Accepted solution]

Hi @Inactive User ,

Would something like this work for you?

The dataset is not large enough to see the sample, but it should work in a larger dataset

[atcodedog05]

Hi @Inactive User 

Here is a workflow for the task.

Output:

Workflow:

I can creating a RandomID and sorting by it to random zine the data.

Then use sample tool n%

Currently 5% is too small with the number of rows. With more rows it will be more effective🙂

Hope this helps 🙂

If this post helps you please mark it as solution. And give a like if you dont mind 😀👍

[Inactive User]

@AngelosPachis Oh I'm so embarrassed, I can't believe it was this easy 🙈 Clearly I need to take a break from working on this -- thank you so much!

[atcodedog05]

Hi @Inactive User 

As per your requirement last line said you wanted random sample right

Just using a sample tool will not pick random sample. It only pick first n% rows.

My workflow randomizes the selection with help of a randomID

And 1 in every n rows is not same as N%

[AngelosPachis]

Hi @Inactive User ,

Don't be embarrassed since as it turned out I wasn't totally correct. As @atcodedog05 passionately pointed out, indeed my previous answer won't give you a perfectly random sample.

Instead, you can either follow the workflow he proposed, but sample for the first 5% of rows to get the correct answer. Otherwise, you can use a batch macro with a random sample tool, which you can also find attached

Hope that solves it