Roanoke College Institute for Policy and Opinion Research is rated Least biased with Mostly Factual factual reporting by Media Bias Fact Check.
LEAST BIASED
These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appeals to emotion or stereotypes). The reporting is factual and usually sourced. These are the most credible media sources. See all Least Biased Sources.
- Overall, we rate Roanoke College Institute for Policy and Opinion Research as Least Biased based on polling that minimally favors the left. We also rate them as Mostly Factual pollsters based on a B- rating in predictive polling.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED (-1.4)
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL (4.0)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
The Roanoke College Institute for Policy and Opinion Research is a research survey organization based in Roanoke, Virginia. According to their about page, “The Institute for Policy and Opinion Research (IPOR) conducts regular surveys within the Commonwealth of Virginia. These polls focus on political, economic, and social issues of importance throughout the state. Many of these polls focus on electoral politics, but we also poll on important social issues.”
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Roanoke College Institute for Policy and Opinion Research is operated and funded by Roanoke College. Revenue is derived through sales of services.
Analysis / Bias
Roanoke College Institute for Policy and Opinion Research conducts market research and polling via various mediums. The website does not generally report on politics but publishes news related to its polling.
Polling bias is assessed using Silver Bulletin’s mean-reverted bias metric. For Roanoke College, the mean-reverted polling bias is −0.78, indicating a slight Democratic lean. Under MBFC’s calibrated polling bias scale, a mean bias between -0.6 and -1.0 corresponds to a polling bias score of -2. Polling bias accounts for 70% of the final bias score, while editorial bias accounts for 30%.
Applying MBFC’s weighted formula:
(−2 × 0.70) + (−0 × 0.30) = −1.4
Based on MBFC’s bias classification scale, a final score of -1.4 places Roanoke College in the Least Biased category.
Factual reporting is rated Mostly Factual based on a Silver Bulletin grade of B-, indicating average predictive accuracy and fair methodological performance.
Failed Fact Checks
- None to date
Overall, we rate Roanoke College Institute for Policy and Opinion Research as Least Biased based on polling that minimally favors the left. We also rate them as Mostly Factual pollsters based on a B- rating in predictive polling. (D. Van Zandt 12/16/2024) Updated (02/23/2026)
Source: https://www.roanoke.edu/ipor
Last Updated on February 23, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check
Do you appreciate our work? Please consider one of the following ways to sustain us.
or
Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources