UNF – Public Opinion Research Lab is rated Left-Center with High factual reporting by Media Bias Fact Check.
LEFT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appeals to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate the Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) as Left-Center based on polling that moderately favors Democrats. We also rate them as High Factual pollsters based on an A− rating in predictive polling.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER (-2.8)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (1.5)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
The Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) is a survey research center housed at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. According to its who we are page, PORL is a full-service research facility that provides tailored survey research and aims to produce reliable, independent, and non-partisan data for policymakers and community partners. PORL is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and a Charter Member of the AAPOR Transparency Initiative.
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
PORL is operated by the University of North Florida, a public university. Funding is derived from university support and contracted research services provided to public and private clients.
Analysis / Bias
PORL conducts public opinion polling and publishes results of its surveys, but does not produce political news or ideological commentary. Content is limited to reporting its own polling findings.
Polling bias is assessed using Silver Bulletin’s mean-reverted bias metric. For PORL, the mean-reverted polling bias is −1.58, indicating a Democratic lean. Under MBFC’s calibrated polling bias scale, a mean bias between −1.6 and −2.0 corresponds to a polling bias score of −4. Polling bias accounts for 70% of the final bias score, while editorial bias accounts for 30%.
Because PORL does not publish ideological commentary or political analysis beyond reporting polling data, editorial bias is assessed at 0.
Applying MBFC’s weighted formula:
(−4 × 0.70) + (0 × 0.30) = −2.8
Based on MBFC’s bias classification scale, a final score of −2.8 places the Public Opinion Research Lab in the Left-Center category.
Factual reporting is rated High based on a Silver Bulletin grade of A−, indicating solid predictive accuracy and good methodological performance.
Failed Fact Checks
- None to date
Overall, we rate the Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) as Left-Center based on polling that moderately favors Democrats. We also rate them as High Factual pollsters based on an A− rating in predictive polling. Updated (D. Van Zandt 02/26/2026)
Source: https://www.unfporl.org/
Last Updated on February 26, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check
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