A review of methodologies used in studies investigating human behaviour as determinant of outcome for exposure to 'naturalistic and urban environments'

Human behaviour factors (HBF) and physiological factors (PF) are deemed important in perceiving therapeutic value of naturalistic and urban environments (NAUE). However there is no consensus to date that states which type of scientific methodologies used to investigate therapeutic value of nature are more important than others. This review analyses the literature to determine the findings concerning the type of scientific evidence related to NAUE and its therapeutic value. An online search in the databases Cochrane, databases IIED (International institute for environmental development), CINHAL, Green File, PubMed and Medline were conducted. Also a manual search of reference lists from selected articles was performed. Task specific questionnaires, and surveys in combination with interviews were the most commonly used tools for assessing human behaviour. Only one study used a semi structured - interviews instead of mixed methods. The scientific evidence of four kinds has been identified: (i) the products of divergent research trials in which participants have been tested in divergent situations; (ii) the outcomes of experiments that used metaphors and videos of NAUE to test people's reactions; (iii) the results of psychological surveys, both quantitative and qualitative, in which people were asked about their preferences and experiences; and (iv) the use of countrywide or regional health data sets. The therapeutic value of NAUE has only been tested in a few controlled experiments which have indicated that such surrounding boost recovery from surgery; enhance the ability to focus attention; and improve recovery from emotional states. There are a few studies that used images and videos of NAUE to test peoples' reactions. More abundant are the attitudinal surveys that show that people develop particular attitudes to naturalistic spaces, wild landscapes and natural vegetation. It is noticed that national or regional figure record sets are able to distinguish disparities due more to whereabouts of residence and occupation rather than individual behaviour.