[R] correlation between categorical data

[Heinz Tuechler]

At 07:40 21.06.2009, J Dougherty wrote:

[...]
>There are other ways of regarding the FET.  Since it is precisely 
>what it says
>- an exact test - you can argue that you should avoid carrying over any
>conclusions drawn about the small population the test was applied to and
>employing them in a broader context.  In so far as the test is concerned, the
>"sample" data and the contingency table it is arrayed in are the entire
>universe.  In that sense, the FET can't be "conservative" or "liberal."  It
>isn't actually a hypothesis test and should not be thought of as one or used
>in the place of one.
> >
>JDougherty

Could you give some reference, supporting this, for me, surprising 
view? I don't see a necessary connection between an exact test and 
the idea that it does not test a hypothesis.

Thanks,
Heinz