# Fisher's Exact Test value in SPSS

I have two ordinal variables, and I'm using the Fisher's Exact Test in lieu of the chi-square test when the expected values for the latter test are lower than 5. My contingency tables are $3\times2$.

I have a couple of concerns:

• From the Fisher's Exact test, I just expect a $p$-value. Anyway, when I calculate it in SPSS for $3\times2$ tables, I also get a value for the test statistic (like in the Chi-quare test). What does this mean? Should I report it in my results?

• Would it make sense to report the Chi-square statistic (even if expected values are lower than 5) together with Fisher's Exact Test results? Or would a $p$-value from Fisher's test be enough?

I would not report the chi-square statistic, unless you correct somehow for small sample sizes (e.g. by simulation). I don't know what options SPSS offers, but Fisher's is not the only option.
• @Forinstance, why SPSS doesn't give me the FI(x) value for 2x2 tables. I'm not quite sure. I think just because different programs compute it. For 2X2 table, computation is done by the core Crosstabs routine. For greater table, computation is done by Exact tests module. Jan 7, 2014 at 16:02