Research Design Connection: Benefits of Nature-based Experiences

by Sally Augustin, Ph.D. | July 20th, 2020

Weir reports on the findings of numerous studies that have established the psychological value of nature-based experiences. The material related to experiencing nature while indoors have the widest applicability. Weir states, for example, that “Berman and colleagues found that study participants who listened to nature sounds like crickets chirping and waves crashing performed better on demanding cognitive tests than those who listed to other sounds like traffic and the clatter of a busy café…[Franz and colleagues] found that any exposure to nature – in person or via video – led to improvements in attention, positive emotions and the ability to reflect on a life problem…[a team lead by White, University of Exeter] concluded that while the real deal is best, virtual reality can be a worthwhile substitute for people who are unable to get outdoors…White and his colleagues found that people who watched nature videos with a diverse mix of …