Type I error rate of the chi-square test of independence in R x C tables that have small expected frequencies.

Sampling experiments are reported which show that the uncorrected chi-square test of independence is exceptionally robust with respect to small expected frequencies in R x C contingency tables. In 2x2, 2x3, 3x3, 3x4, and 4x4 tables, the actual type I error rates did not exceed .06(alpha-.05) for those applications most likely to arise in practice.