block randomization

[grayab]

Hello -

I have a sample of 60 units that need to be randomized to treatment and control (30 and 30).  However, I have several subgroups I want to block on, such that the units within them are randomized within the subgroups. There should be .5 probability of randomization within each block.  I would like an outcome roughly like this:

Group1 (6 units):  3T, 3C

Group2 (10 units): 5T, 5C

Group3 (6 units): 3T, 3C

Group4 (38 units): 19T, 19C

I am not sure how to code for this.  I was thinking of something along these lines, but this doesn't seem to be quite right:

PROC SURVEYSELECT DATA=mysample method = sys rate = 0.5 seed = 11235813 out=OUTFILE outall;

       STRATA Group1 Group2 Group3 Group4;

Run;

DATA assignment; SET OUTFILE;

      SamplingWeight GT 0 THEN GROUP = 'TREATMENT';

      SamplingWeight EQ 0 THEN GROUP = 'CONTROL';

RUN;

A second question is how I should set up my data file to facilitate this.  I currently have binary indicator variables for each subgroup.  How do I write the code to ensure that only the 1s for a given subgroup are randomized within that block?

I realize this is a complex question. I appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks.

[PGStats]

Assign a random number R to each unit. Sort your units by Group and R. Take the first 3 units for Group 1 T, the next 3 for Group 1 C, the next 5 for Group 2 T, and so on. The assignment will be perfectly random within each Group.

PG

[PGStats]

One simple way to do this is with dataset interleaving :

/* Define groups treatments and units, unrandomized */

data units;

input grp trt $ id $ @@;

datalines;

1 C A 1 C B 1 C C

1 T D 1 T E 1 T F

2 C G 2 C H 2 C I 2 C J 2 C K

2 T L 2 T M 2 T N 2 T O 2 T P

;

/* Make sure the order is well defined */

proc sort data=units; by grp trt; run;

/* Assign a random number to every unit */

data randomIds;

call streamInit(233434);

set units;

ran = rand("UNIFORM");

keep grp id ran;

run;

/* Sort random numbers (i.e. randomize units) within every group */

proc sort data=randomIds; by grp ran; run;

/* Interleave units and random assignment */

data assign;

set units;

set randomIds;

drop ran;

run;

proc print data=assign noobs; run;

PG

[grayab]

Thank you.  I like this suggestion for its simplicity.  One possibly minor issue with it is that (while I did not explain this above) some of groups have odd numbers of units -- a decision will have to be made as to whether the final unit in those groups is assigned to T or C.  I feel that this introduces some degree of bias.

I wonder if there is a way to use the process you have described above, but to have SAS assign the last unit in the subgroups that have odd numbers of units?

I really appreciate this help.  I am a fairly new SAS user and I have not used it for this purpose before.

[PGStats]

Remember, YOU define the design in the initial step. So you could have an entry in a group have TRT="D" (instead of "C" or "T") and then drop the unit that ends up randomly assigned to it.

PG

[grayab]

gotcha.

Thank you!