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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryMeasurement & AttributionData Sampling

Measurement & Attribution

Data Sampling

Analyzing a subset of data to estimate results for the whole, which speeds reports but can reduce accuracy on detailed queries.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Data sampling is the practice of analyzing a subset of data to estimate results for the whole dataset. Analytics tools may sample large datasets to return reports faster, but sampled results can be less accurate, particularly for detailed queries, small segments, or long date ranges where the subset may not represent the full data.