Table 1.

Favorite place types and features identified in previous research.

Author/s	Favorite Place Types	Method of identifying favorite places	Consideration of ART	Consideration of attributes	Study Population
Korpela, 1989	Focus was on feelings created by the environment, rather than the physical characteristics of it. However, features frequently described by respondents included: homelike, peaceful, secure, comforting, huge, indomitable, powerful, beautiful, silent, rugged, pleasant smell of wood, and colorfulness and grayness and ugliness at the same time.	Survey and essay. Survey: the 9 and 12-year old students answered 10 verbally delivered questions, asking them to describe their favorite place and why they like to visit it. Essay: the 17-year old students were asked to write an essay about their favorite place, its features, the feelings it gives them, and the mood they are in when they visit it.	No	Yes	Students aged 9, 12, and 17 years old, in and near Tampere, Finland
Korpela, 1991	Most common types of favorite places were: private homes (39%), restaurants/downtown (16%), natural settings (14%), sport facilities (14%), clubs (7%), and “other,” such as a car or motorcycle (10%).	Essay: in first study, respondents were asked to write an essay on their favorite place, explaining why it was important to them and what experiences and feelings they had there. In second study, participants were asked to write an essay on their experiences in their favorite place, focusing on the situations and feelings that motivated them to go there.	No	No	Students aged 17–18 years, near Tampere, Finland
Korpela, 1992	Most common types of favorite places were: private homes (39%), natural settings (15%), restaurants/downtown (15%), sport facilities (13%), clubs (7%), and “other,” such as a car or motorcycle (7%).	Essay: students were asked to write an essay about their favorite place, describing what sort of place it was, why it was their favorite place, and what personally important thoughts, feelings or experiences they have had there.	No	No	Students aged 17–18 years, near Tampere, Finland
Korpela and Hartig, 1996	Using a list of characteristics, respondents indicated the extent to which they were present in their favorite places. The most frequently reported characteristics were: beautiful views (83.3%), sunlight (83.1%), the presence of water (73.1%); and the presence of personal belongings (56.4%).	Survey: respondents were asked to evaluate seven settings, including a “favorite” and “unpleasant” place in their life, by completing the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS) and the Zuckerman Inventory of Personal Reactions (ZIPERS).	Yes	Yes	Students from the University of Tampere, Finland. Aged 19–46 years
Newell, 1997	Natural sites in general were the favorite places of respondents. Ten place type categories ranked according to frequency: (1/2) “personal bedroom/belongings” were equal with “outdoors, nature, the Earth”; (3) beaches/coastline; (4) family home and surroundings; (5) built environment, pubs, streets; (6/7) woods/forests were equal with countryside/fields; (8) mountains; (9) recreation areas/parks; (10) rivers, lakes, and ponds.	Survey: open-ended responses to a question about their one favorite place “to save from damage or destruction.”	No	No	Psychology and sociology students from universities in: USA, Ireland and Senegal. Aged 18–45 years
Korpela et al., 2001	Largest proportion of favorite places (48%) were natural spaces, followed by residential sites (19%); geographic areas such as a country or city (16%); leisure settings such as amusement parks and zoos (5%); and school/university settings (4%).	Survey: open-ended responses to questions about their favorite place. Respondents asked to imagine being in their favorite place, “that one place in which you have most enjoyed spending time, or that you have valued being in more than any other place. Perhaps you view this place as being particularly significant in your life.” Also completed the PRS.	Yes	No	Psychology students from Berkeley, United States. Aged 17–47 years
Korpela and Ylén, 2007	Natural sites favorite places of 51% of respondents. No figures provided for place types, but the most frequently mentioned favorite natural places were nearby parks, woods, and seashores.	Survey: open-ended responses to the question: “Think about your residential area for a moment. What is your favorite place within the area? This place may be located indoors or outdoors.”	No	No	Residents of four residential areas in Helsinki, Finland. Average age 40 years
Korpela et al., 2008	Natural sites favorite places of majority of respondents. Sixteen favorite place types were grouped into five main place types. Ranked according to frequency: (1) extensively managed natural areas, e.g. woods, forests, meadows; (2) built-up green spaces, e.g. parks; (3) waterside environments, e.g. beaches and harbors; (4) exercise and activity/hobby areas, e.g., playgrounds and sports ovals; (5) indoor and outdoor urban/built areas.	Survey: rating the personal significance of 16 types of settings in the local area. Selecting one type in which their favorite place is represented, and describing that place. Descriptions used to categorize place types.	No	No	Residents of Helsinki and Tampere, Finland. Aged 15–75 years
Korpela and Ylén, 2009	Natural sites favorite places of majority of respondents. Looked at consistency of re-selecting same type of favorite place over a 10-month period. Most frequently selected favorite places in both surveys were small-scale natural state areas, beaches and harbor areas, and large forest areas.	Survey: rating the personal significance of 16 types of settings in the local area. Selecting one type in which their favorite place is represented, and describing that place. Descriptions used to categorize place types.	No	No	Residents of Helsinki and Tampere, Finland. Aged 15-75 years.
Korpela et al., 2010	Natural sites favorite places of majority of respondents. Sixteen favorite place types were grouped into five main place types. Ranked according to frequency: (1) extensively managed natural areas, e.g. woods, forests, meadows; (2) built-up green spaces, e.g. parks; (3) waterside environments, e.g. beaches and harbors; (4) exercise and activity/hobby areas, e.g. playgrounds and sports ovals; (5) indoor and outdoor urban/built areas.	Survey: rating the personal significance of 16 types of settings in the local area. Selecting one type in which their favorite place is represented, and describing that place. Descriptions used to categorize place types.	No	No	Residents of Helsinki and Tampere, Finland. Aged 15–75 years