gistfile1.txt

/**
* JS
*
**/
$(document).on('change','.js-filter-form', function(e){
            e.preventDefault();
            var category = $(this).find('option:selected').val();
            $.ajax({
                url: wpAjax.ajaxUrl,
                data:{ action: 'filter_ajax_wap', category: category },
                type: 'post',
                success: function(result){
                    $('.js-filter').html(result);
                },
                error: function(result){
                    console.warn(result);
                }
            });
        });


/**
* PHP Functions
*
**/
function load_scripts(){
   wp_enqueue_script('ajax', get_stylesheet_directory_uri().'/js/script.js', array('jquery'),'1.0', true );
   wp_localize_script('ajax', 'wpAjax', array('ajaxUrl' => admin_url('admin-ajax.php')));
}
add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts','load_scripts');


add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_filter_ajax', 'filter_ajax');
add_action('wp_ajax_filter_ajax', 'filter_ajax');
function filter_ajax(){
	$category = $_POST['category'];
	if( in_category( 'category_2' ) ):
		$args = array(
				'post_status' => 'publish',
				'post_type' => 'post',
				'posts_per_page' => -1,
				'child_of'  => 102,
				'category_name'  => 'cat1,cat2,cat3,cat4'
			);
		elseif(in_category( 'category_1' )) :
			$args = array(
				'post_status' => 'publish',
				'post_type' => 'post',
				'posts_per_page' => -1,
				'child_of'  => 101,
				'category_name'  => 'cat_1,cat_2,cat_3,cat_4'
			);
	endif;

	if (isset($category)){
		$args['category__in'] = array($category);
	}

	$query = new WP_Query($args);

	if ($query->have_posts()): ?>
		<div>
			<?php while($query->have_posts()) : $query->the_post(); ?>
			<div>
				<div class="desciption">
					<figure style="background: url(<?php the_field('thumbnail'); ?>) no-repeat">
						<figcaption><?php foreach((get_the_category()) as $category): echo $category->name . '<br/>'; endforeach; ?></figcaption>
					</figure>
					<h3><?php the_title(); ?></h3>
					<a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>">Read More</a>
				</div>
			</div>
			<?php endwhile; ?>
		</div>
<?php
	endif;
	wp_reset_postdata();
	die();
}



/**
* HTML/PHP
**/
<form class="js-filter-form" method="post">
	<select name="categories">
		<?php
		if( in_category( 'category_2' ) ):
			$cat_args = array(
				'post_type' => 'post',
				'option_all' => 'All',
				'exclude' => array(1),
				'child_of'  => 101
			);
		elseif(in_category( category_1' )) :
			$cat_args = array(
				'post_type' => 'post',
				'option_all' => 'All',
				'exclude' => array(1),
				'child_of'  => 102
			);
		endif;

		$categories = get_categories($cat_args); ?>
			<option class="js-filter-item" value="-1">All</option>
		<?php foreach ($categories as $cat) : ?>
			<option class="js-filter-item" value="<?= $cat->term_id; ?>"><?= $cat->name; ?></option>
		<?php endforeach; ?>
	</select>
</form>


<div class='js-filter'>
		<?php
		if( in_category( 'category_2' ) ):
			$args = array(
				'post_status' => 'publish',
				'post_type' => 'post',
				'posts_per_page' => -1,
				'child_of'  => 102,
				'category_name'  => 'cat1,cat2,cat3,cat4'
			);
		elseif(in_category( 'category_1' )) :
			$args = array(
				'post_status' => 'publish',
				'post_type' => 'post',
				'posts_per_page' => -1,
				'child_of'  => 101,
				'category_name'  => 'cat_1,cat_2,cat_3,cat_4'
			);
		endif;

		$query = new WP_Query($args);

		if ($query->have_posts()): ?>
			<div>
			<?php while($query->have_posts()) : $query->the_post(); ?>
				<div class="article__conntent">
					<div class="desciption">
						<figure style="background: url(<?php the_field('thumbnail'); ?>) no-repeat">
							<figcaption><?php foreach((get_the_category()) as $category): echo $category->name . '<br/>'; endforeach; ?></figcaption>
						</figure>
						<h3><?php the_title(); ?></h3>
						<a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>">Read More</a>
					</div>
				</div>
			<?php endwhile; ?>
			</div>
		<?php endif; ?>
<?php wp_reset_postdata(); ?>

You'll need to get the select box/drop down to submit some data, any data at this point.
There is also an option in Developer Tools, which could be more useful than trying to echo out a response.