What are the five basic categories of questions to ask when evaluating the reliability and

validity of electronic information sources found online?

What will be an ideal response?

First, ask about the purpose and audience of any Web site you use as a source. What
type of site is it? Does it have a sponsoring agency? Next, question the expertise of the site. Is
the author identified? Are the author's credentials readily apparent? Is the site linked to other
trusted sites? Third, assess the objectivity of the site. Are there any obvious biases? Are
opposing views acknowledged or represented? Are opinions clearly distinguished from facts?
Fourth, assess the site for accuracy. Are there spelling or grammatical errors? Can you
corroborate the facts using other trusted sources? Does the author solicit corrections? Finally,
is the source timely? When was the site last updated?