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A practical flight-phase approach to balanced random sampling

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  • Tillé, Yves

Abstract

This paper introduces a straightforward method for selecting a balanced random sample from a population. The procedure involves a flight phase, which transforms the vector of inclusion probabilities into one with components close to 0 or 1, followed by a landing phase to complete the selection. We present a novel implementation of the flight phase that leverages linear programming, enabling a highly concise and easily interpretable R code. The method is formally described, implemented in R, and illustrated using real population data. This approach offers a practical, transparent, and reproducible solution to the balanced sampling problem, while establishing a direct link to linear programming techniques.

Suggested Citation

  • Tillé, Yves, 2026. "A practical flight-phase approach to balanced random sampling," Statistics & Probability Letters, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:stapro:v:227:y:2026:i:c:s0167715225001816
    DOI: 10.1016/j.spl.2025.110536
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guillaume Chauvet & Yves Tillé, 2006. "A fast algorithm for balanced sampling," Computational Statistics, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 53-62, March.
    2. Jean-Claude Deville & Yves Tille, 2004. "Efficient balanced sampling: The cube method," Biometrika, Biometrika Trust, vol. 91(4), pages 893-912, December.
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